Marking apparatus having operational sensors for underground facility marking operations, and associated methods and systems

ABSTRACT

Methods, apparatus and systems for performing a marking operation to mark a presence or absence of at least one underground facility using a marking device. Marking material is dispensed onto a target surface via actuation of an actuation system of the marking device. A location tracking system detects a location of the marking device. One or more input devices of the marking device detect(s) one or more operating conditions of the marking device, and marking information is logged into local memory of the marking device. In one aspect, at least some operating information relating to the one or more detected conditions of the marking device are included in the marking information logged into memory.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §120, as acontinuation (CON) of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No.12/703,958, filed Feb. 11, 2010, entitled “Marking Apparatus HavingEnhanced Features for Underground Facility Marking Operations, andAssociated Methods and Systems.”

Ser. No. 12/703,958 claims a priority benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(a),to Canadian application serial no. 2,691,707, entitled “MarkingApparatus Having Enhanced Features for Underground Facility MarkingOperations, and Associated Methods and Systems,” filed on Feb. 10, 2010,under attorney docket no. PAT 70835-1CA.

Ser. No. 12/703,958 claims a priority benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e),to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/151,574, entitled “MarkingDevice that has Enhanced Features for Underground Facility LocateOperations,” filed on Feb. 11, 2009 under attorney docket numberD0687.70018US00.

Ser. No. 12/703,958 also claims a priority benefit, under 35 U.S.C.§119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/232,112, entitled“Methods and Apparatus for Detecting and Monitoring Use of LocatingEquipment for Out-Of-Tolerance Conditions,” filed on Aug. 7, 2009 underattorney docket number D0687.70042US00.

Ser. No. 12/703,958 also claims a priority benefit, under 35 U.S.C.§120, as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 12/568,087, entitled “Methods and Apparatus forGenerating an Electronic Record of Environmental Landmarks based onMarking Device Actuations,” filed on Sep. 28, 2009 under attorney docketnumber D0687.70014US01.

Ser. No. 12/568,087 in turn claims a priority benefit, under 35 U.S.C.§119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/102,205, entitled“Data Acquisition For And Method Of Analyzing Locate Operations WithRespect To Environmental Landmarks,” filed on Oct. 2, 2008 underattorney docket number D0687.70014US00.

Ser. No. 12/568,087 also claims a priority benefit, under 35 U.S.C.§120, as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 12/539,497, entitled “Methods and Apparatus forGenerating an Electronic Record of a Marking Operation based on MarkingDevice Actuations,” filed on Aug. 11, 2009 under attorney docket numberD0687.70011US01.

Ser. No. 12/539,497 in turn claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e),of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/102,151, entitled “Dataacquisition system for and method of analyzing marking operations basedon marking device actuations,” filed on Oct. 2, 2008 under attorneydocket number D0687.70011US00.

Each of the above-identified applications is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

Ser. No. 12/703,958 also claims a priority benefit, under 35 U.S.C.§119(e), to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/235,519, entitled“Marking Device With Accelerometer and Local Data Storage,” filed Aug.20, 2009 under Attorney Docket Number D0687.70047US00.

BACKGROUND

Field service operations may be any operation in which companiesdispatch technicians and/or other staff to perform certain activities,for example, installations, services and/or repairs. Field serviceoperations may exist in various industries, examples of which include,but are not limited to, network installations, utility installations,security systems, construction, medical equipment, heating, ventilatingand air conditioning (HVAC) and the like.

An example of a field service operation in the construction industry isa so-called “locate and marking operation,” also commonly referred tomore simply as a “locate operation” (or sometimes merely as “a locate”).In a typical locate operation, a locate technician visits a work site inwhich there is a plan to disturb the ground (e.g., excavate, dig one ormore holes and/or trenches, bore, etc.) so as to determine a presence oran absence of one or more underground facilities (such as various typesof utility cables and pipes) in a dig area to be excavated or disturbedat the work site. In some instances, a locate operation may be requestedfor a “design” project, in which there may be no immediate plan toexcavate or otherwise disturb the ground, but nonetheless informationabout a presence or absence of one or more underground facilities at awork site may be valuable to inform a planning, permitting and/orengineering design phase of a future construction project.

In many states, an excavator who plans to disturb ground at a work siteis required by law to notify any potentially affected undergroundfacility owners prior to undertaking an excavation activity. Advancednotice of excavation activities may be provided by an excavator (oranother party) by contacting a “one-call center.” One-call centerstypically are operated by a consortium of underground facility ownersfor the purposes of receiving excavation notices and in turn notifyingfacility owners and/or their agents of a plan to excavate. As part of anadvanced notification, excavators typically provide to the one-callcenter various information relating to the planned activity, including alocation (e.g., address) of the work site and a description of the digarea to be excavated or otherwise disturbed at the work site.

A locate operation typically is initiated as a result of an excavatorproviding an excavation notice to a one-call center. An excavationnotice also is commonly referred to as a “locate request,” and may beprovided by the excavator to the one-call center via an electronic mailmessage, information entry via a website maintained by the one-callcenter, or a telephone conversation between the excavator and a humanoperator at the one-call center. The locate request may include anaddress or some other location-related information describing thegeographic location of a work site at which the excavation is to beperformed, as well as a description of the dig area (e.g., a textdescription), such as its location relative to certain landmarks and/orits approximate dimensions, within which there is a plan to disturb theground at the work site. One-call centers similarly may receive locaterequests for design projects (for which, as discussed above, there maybe no immediate plan to excavate or otherwise disturb the ground).

Once facilities implicated by the locate request are identified by aone-call center, the one-call center generates a “locate request ticket”(also known as a “locate ticket,” or simply a “ticket”). The locaterequest ticket essentially constitutes an instruction to inspect a worksite and typically identifies the work site of the proposed excavationor design and a description of the dig area, typically lists on theticket all of the underground facilities that may be present at the worksite (e.g., by providing a member code for the facility owner of anunderground facility), and may also include various other informationrelevant to the proposed excavation or design (e.g., the name of theexcavation company, a name of a property owner or party contracting theexcavation company to perform the excavation, etc.). The one-call centersends the ticket to one or more underground facility owners and/or oneor more locate service providers (who may be acting as contracted agentsof the facility owners) so that they can conduct a locate and markingoperation to verify a presence or absence of the underground facilitiesin the dig area. For example, in some instances, a given undergroundfacility owner may operate its own fleet of locate technicians, in whichcase the one-call center may send the ticket to the underground facilityowner. In other instances, a given facility owner may contract with alocate service provider to receive locate request tickets and perform alocate and marking operation in response to received tickets on theirbehalf.

Upon receiving the locate request, a locate service provider or afacility owner (hereafter referred to as a “ticket recipient”) maydispatch a locate technician to the work site of planned excavation todetermine a presence or absence of one or more underground facilities inthe dig area to be excavated or otherwise disturbed. A typical firststep for the locate technician includes utilizing an undergroundfacility “locate device,” which is an instrument or set of instruments(also referred to commonly as a “locate set”) for detecting facilitiesthat are concealed in some manner, such as cables and pipes that arelocated underground. The locate device is employed by the technician toverify the presence or absence of underground facilities indicated inthe locate request ticket as potentially present in the dig area (e.g.,via the facility owner member codes listed in the ticket). This processis often referred to as a “locate operation.”

In one example of a locate operation, an underground facility locatedevice is used to detect electromagnetic fields that are generated by anapplied signal provided along a length of a target facility to beidentified. In this example, a locate device may include both a signaltransmitter to provide the applied signal (e.g., which is coupled by thelocate technician to a tracer wire disposed along a length of afacility), and a signal receiver which is generally a hand-heldapparatus carried by the locate technician as the technician walksaround the dig area to search for underground facilities. Thetransmitter is connected via a connection point to a target object (inthis example, underground facility) located in the ground, and generatesthe applied signal coupled to the underground facility via theconnection point (e.g., to a tracer wire along the facility), resultingin the generation of a magnetic field. The magnetic field in turn isdetected by the locate receiver, which itself may include one or moredetection antenna. The locate receiver indicates a presence of afacility when it detects electromagnetic fields arising from the appliedsignal. Conversely, the absence of a signal detected by the locatereceiver generally indicates the absence of the target facility.

In yet another example, a locate device employed for a locate operationmay include a single instrument, similar in some respects to aconventional metal detector. In particular, such an instrument mayinclude an oscillator to generate an alternating current that passesthrough a coil, which in turn produces a first magnetic field. If apiece of electrically conductive metal is in close proximity to the coil(e.g., if an underground facility having a metal component is below/nearthe coil of the instrument), eddy currents are induced in the metal andthe metal produces its own magnetic field, which in turn affects thefirst magnetic field. The instrument may include a second coil tomeasure changes to the first magnetic field, thereby facilitatingdetection of metallic objects.

In addition to the locate operation, the locate technician alsogenerally performs a “marking operation,” in which the technician marksthe presence (and in some cases the absence) of a given undergroundfacility in the dig area based on the various signals detected (or notdetected) during the locate operation. For this purpose, the locatetechnician conventionally utilizes a “marking device” to dispense amarking material on, for example, the ground, pavement, or other surfacealong a detected underground facility. Marking material may be anymaterial, substance, compound, and/or element, used or which may be usedseparately or in combination to mark, signify, and/or indicate. Examplesof marking materials may include, but are not limited to, paint, chalk,dye, and/or iron. Marking devices, such as paint marking wands and/orpaint marking wheels, provide a convenient method of dispensing markingmaterials onto surfaces, such as onto the surface of the ground orpavement.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a conventional marking device 50 with amechanical actuation system to dispense paint as a marker. Generallyspeaking, the marking device 50 includes a handle 38 at a proximal endof an elongated shaft 36 and resembles a sort of “walking stick,” suchthat a technician may operate the marking device while standing/walkingin an upright or substantially upright position. A marking dispenserholder 40 is coupled to a distal end of the shaft 36 so as to containand support a marking dispenser 56, e.g., an aerosol paint can having aspray nozzle 54. Typically, a marking dispenser in the form of anaerosol paint can is placed into the holder 40 upside down, such thatthe spray nozzle 54 is proximate to the distal end of the shaft (closeto the ground, pavement or other surface on which markers are to bedispensed).

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the mechanical actuation system of the markingdevice 50 includes an actuator or mechanical trigger 42 proximate to thehandle 38 that is actuated/triggered by the technician (e.g., viapulling, depressing or squeezing with fingers/hand). The actuator 42 isconnected to a mechanical coupler 52 (e.g., a rod) disposed inside andalong a length of the elongated shaft 36. The coupler 52 is in turnconnected to an actuation mechanism 58, at the distal end of the shaft36, which mechanism extends outward from the shaft in the direction ofthe spray nozzle 54. Thus, the actuator 42, the mechanical coupler 52,and the actuation mechanism 58 constitute the mechanical actuationsystem of the marking device 50.

FIG. 1A shows the mechanical actuation system of the conventionalmarking device 50 in the non-actuated state, wherein the actuator 42 is“at rest” (not being pulled) and, as a result, the actuation mechanism58 is not in contact with the spray nozzle 54. FIG. 1B shows the markingdevice 50 in the actuated state, wherein the actuator 42 is beingactuated (pulled, depressed, squeezed) by the technician. When actuated,the actuator 42 displaces the mechanical coupler 52 and the actuationmechanism 58 such that the actuation mechanism contacts and appliespressure to the spray nozzle 54, thus causing the spray nozzle todeflect slightly and dispense paint. The mechanical actuation system isspring-loaded so that it automatically returns to the non-actuated state(FIG. 1A) when the actuator 42 is released.

In some environments, arrows, flags, darts, or other types of physicalmarks may be used to mark the presence or absence of an undergroundfacility in a dig area, in addition to or as an alternative to amaterial applied to the ground (such as paint, chalk, dye, tape) alongthe path of a detected utility. The marks resulting from any of a widevariety of materials and/or objects used to indicate a presence orabsence of underground facilities generally are referred to as “locatemarks.” Often, different color materials and/or physical objects may beused for locate marks, wherein different colors correspond to differentutility types. For example, the American Public Works Association (APWA)has established a standardized color-coding system for utilityidentification for use by public agencies, utilities, contractors andvarious groups involved in ground excavation (e.g., red=electric powerlines and cables; blue=portable water; orange=telecommunication lines;yellow=gas, oil, steam). In some cases, the technician also may provideone or more marks to indicate that no facility was found in the dig area(sometimes referred to as a “clear”).

As mentioned above, the foregoing activity of identifying and marking apresence or absence of one or more underground facilities generally isreferred to for completeness as a “locate and marking operation.”However, in light of common parlance adopted in the constructionindustry, and/or for the sake of brevity, one or both of the respectivelocate and marking functions may be referred to in some instances simplyas a “locate operation” or a “locate” (i.e., without making any specificreference to the marking function). Accordingly, it should beappreciated that any reference in the relevant arts to the task of alocate technician simply as a “locate operation” or a “locate” does notnecessarily exclude the marking portion of the overall process. At thesame time, in some contexts a locate operation is identified separatelyfrom a marking operation, wherein the former relates more specificallyto detection-related activities and the latter relates more specificallyto marking-related activities.

Inaccurate locating and/or marking of underground facilities can resultin physical damage to the facilities, property damage, and/or personalinjury during the excavation process that, in turn, can expose afacility owner or contractor to significant legal liability. Whenunderground facilities are damaged and/or when property damage orpersonal injury results from damaging an underground facility during anexcavation, the excavator may assert that the facility was notaccurately located and/or marked by a locate technician, while thelocate contractor who dispatched the technician may in turn assert thatthe facility was indeed properly located and marked. Proving whether theunderground facility was properly located and marked can be difficultafter the excavation (or after some damage, e.g., a gas explosion),because in many cases the physical locate marks (e.g., the markingmaterial or other physical marks used to mark the facility on thesurface of the dig area) will have been disturbed or destroyed duringthe excavation process (and/or damage resulting from excavation).

Previous efforts at documenting locate operations have focused primarilyon locate devices that employ electromagnetic fields to determine thepresence of an underground facility. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,576,973, naming inventor Alan Haddy and entitled “Apparatus and Methodfor Obtaining Geographical Positional Data for an Object LocatedUnderground” (hereafter “Haddy”), is directed to a locate device (i.e.,a “locator”) that receives and stores data from a global positioningsystem (“GPS”) to identify the position of the locate device as anunderground object (e.g., a cable) is detected by the locate device.Haddy notes that by recording geographical position data relating to thedetected underground object, there is no need to physically mark thelocation of the underground object on the ground surface, and therecorded position data may be used in the future to re-locate theunderground object.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 7,319,387, naming inventors Willson et al. andentitled “GPS Interface for Locating Device” (hereafter “Willson”), isdirected to a locate device for locating “position markers,” i.e.,passive antennas that reflect back RF signals and which are installedalong buried utilities. In Willson, a GPS device may be communicativelycoupled to the locate device, or alternatively provided as an integralpart of the locate device, to store GPS coordinate data associated withposition markers detected by the locate device. Electronic memory isprovided in the locate device for storing a data record of the GPScoordinate data, and the data record may be uploaded to a remotecomputer and used to update a mapping database for utilities.

U.S. Publication No. 2006/0282280, naming inventors Stotz et al. andentitled “Ticket and Data Management” (hereafter “Stotz”), also isdirected to a locate device (i.e., a “locator”) including a GPSreceiver. Upon detection of the presence of a utility line, Stotz'locate device can update ticket data with GPS coordinates for thedetected utility line. Once the locate device has updated the ticketdata, the reconfigured ticket data may be transmitted to a network.

U.S. Publication No. 2007/0219722, naming inventors Sawyer, Jr. et al.and entitled “System and Method for Collecting and Updating GeographicalData” (hereafter “Sawyer”), is directed to collecting and recording datarepresentative of the location and characteristics of utilities andinfrastructure in the field for creating a grid or map. Sawyer employs afield data collection unit including a “locating pole” that is placed ontop of or next to a utility to be identified and added to the grid ormap. The locating pole includes an antenna coupled to a locationdetermination system, such as a GPS unit, to provide longitudinal andlatitudinal coordinates of the utility under or next to the end of thelocating pole. The data gathered by the field data collection unit issent to a server to provide a permanent record that may be used fordamage prevention and asset management operations.

SUMMARY

Applicants have recognized and appreciated that uncertainties which maybe attendant to locate and marking operations may be significantlyreduced by collecting various information particularly relating to themarking operation, rather than merely focusing on information relatingto detection of underground facilities via a locate device. In manyinstances, excavators arriving to a work site have only physical locatemarks on which to rely to indicate a presence or absence of undergroundfacilities, and they are not generally privy to information that mayhave been collected previously during the locate operation. Accordingly,the integrity and accuracy of the physical locate marks applied during amarking operation arguably is significantly more important in connectionwith reducing risk of damage and/or injury during excavation than thelocation of where an underground facility was detected via a locatedevice during a locate operation.

More specifically, Applicants have recognized and appreciated thatconventional techniques for using a locate device to detect undergroundfacilities are sometimes tentative and typically iterative in nature,and use of locate devices with GPS capabilities may result in redundant,spurious and/or incomplete geographic location data collected by suchdevices. For example, during a typical locate operation, a technicianattempting to locate an underground facility with a locate device oftenneeds to sweep an appreciable area around a suspected undergroundfacility, and make multiple passes with the locate device over theunderground facility to obtain meaningful detection signals.Furthermore, the technician often needs to rely significantly on visualobservations of the area, including relevant landmarks such as facilityconnections to buildings, transformer boxes, maintenance/public accesspoints, curbs, sidewalks, roadways, etc., to effectively deduce asensible path of an underground facility to be located. The foregoing isparticularly true if at some point during the locate operation thetechnician loses a signal from an underground facility in the process ofbeing detected (e.g., due to a broken transmitter circuit path from adamaged tracer wire, and loss of the transmitter test signal). In viewof the foregoing, it may be readily appreciated that collecting andlogging geographic location information throughout this process mayresult in excessive and/or imprecise data, or in some instancesincomplete relevant data (e.g., in the case of signal loss/broken tracerwire), from which it may be difficult to cull the data that is trulycomplete and representative of where the underground facility ultimatelywas detected.

Furthermore, Applicants have recognized and appreciated that thelocation at which an underground facility ultimately is detected duringa locate operation is not always where the technician physically marksthe ground, pavement or other surface during a marking operation; infact, technician imprecision or negligence, as well as various groundconditions and/or different operating conditions amongst differentlocate device, may in some instances result in significant discrepanciesbetween detected location and physical locate marks. Accordingly, havingdocumentation (e.g., an electronic record) of where physical locatemarks were actually dispensed (i.e., what an excavator encounters whenarriving to a work site) is notably more relevant to the assessment ofliability in the event of damage and/or injury than where an undergroundfacility was detected prior to marking.

Examples of marking devices configured to collect some types ofinformation relating specifically to marking operations are provided inU.S. publication no. 2008-0228294-A1, published Sep. 18, 2008, filedMar. 13, 2007, and entitled “Marking System and Method With Locationand/or Time Tracking,” and U.S. publication no. 2008-0245299-A1,published Oct. 9, 2008, filed Apr. 4, 2007, and entitled “Marking Systemand Method,” both of which publications are incorporated herein byreference. These publications describe, amongst other things, collectinginformation relating to the geographic location, time, and/orcharacteristics (e.g., color/type) of dispensed marking material from amarking device and generating an electronic record based on thiscollected information. Applicants have recognized and appreciated thatcollecting information relating to both geographic location and color ofdispensed marking material provides for automated correlation ofgeographic information for a locate mark to facility type (e.g.,red=electric power lines and cables; blue=portable water;orange=telecommunication lines; yellow=gas, oil, steam); in contrast, inconventional locate devices equipped with GPS capabilities as discussedabove, there is no apparent automated provision for readily linking GPSinformation for a detected facility to the type of facility detected.Applicants have further appreciated that building a more comprehensiveelectronic record of information relating to marking operations furtherfacilitates ensuring the accuracy of such operations.

In view of the foregoing, various embodiments of the present inventionare directed to marking apparatus with enhanced features, and associatedmethods and systems, to facilitate collection of a wide variety ofinformation relating to a marking operation, and provide for creation ofa comprehensive and robust electronic record of a marking operation.Marking information relating to use of a marking device to perform amarking operation may be acquired from one or more of a variety of inputdevices in any of a variety of manners, logged/stored in local memory ofa marking device, formatted in various manners, processed and/oranalyzed at the marking device itself, and/or transmitted to anotherdevice (e.g., a remote computer/server) for storage, processing and/oranalysis.

In some exemplary embodiments described in detail herein, a markingdevice may include one or more environmental sensors and/or operationalsensors, and the marking information may include environmentalinformation and operational information derived from such sensors.Environmental and/or operational information may be used to controloperation of the marking device, assess out-of-tolerance conditions inconnection with use of the marking device, and/or provide alerts orother feedback. In yet other embodiments, additional enhancements aredisclosed relating to improving the determination of a location (e.g.,GPS coordinates) of a dispensing tip of the marking device during use.

In other embodiments, a marking device may be operated in a “solo” modeor a “group” mode. In particular, in a “solo” mode, the marking devicemay be operated as an individual, independent device to collect, storeand/or transmit data, whereas in “group” mode, a marking device may actas a “worker” device or a “leader” device to facilitate consolidation ofdata collected by multiple devices (e.g., relating to a same ticket) ata single one of the devices, at a host server, or at any other suitablelocation.

In yet other embodiments, a marking device may be equipped with anenhanced user interface having tactile functionality; in particular, themarking device may include one or more tactile indicators (e.g.,vibrating devices) disposed, for example, in a handle, joy stick,actuator or elsewhere on the device, to provide a tactile indication toa technician using the marking device (e.g., as feedback in connectionwith an operating mode, operating condition, environmental condition,etc.).

During and/or following collection and/or storage of informationregarding the marking operation, data compiled in one or more electronicrecords associated with the marking operation may be accessed, processedand/or analyzed to provide further information relating to theperformance of the marking operation. For example, in other embodimentsdisclosed herein, data from one or more electronic records of themarking operation is processed so as to electronically render (visuallyrecreate) the marking operation (e.g., on a display device associatedwith the marking device or other display device). Electronic renderingsmay be generated statically (e.g., in which all available data in anelectronic record is rendered essentially simultaneously on an availabledisplay field) or in an “animated” time-sequenced recreation of themarking operation (e.g., based on at least timing and geographiclocation information in the electronic record) once an electronic recordis generated. In yet another exemplary implementation, variousinformation to be logged in an electronic record may bepassed/transmitted in essentially real-time to one or more displaydevices to facilitate an essentially real-time electronic rendering onan available display field of a marking operation in process.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a markingapparatus for use in performing a marking operation to indicate apresence or an absence of at least one underground facility is provided.The marking apparatus comprises a hand-held housing, at least oneprocessor disposed within the hand-held housing, a holder configured tohold to the hand-held housing at least one marking dispenser containinga marking material, and at least one input device communicativelycoupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense at leastone environmental condition of an environment in which the markingapparatus is located. The at least one input device is configured toprovide an output signal to the at least one processor indicative of thesensed at least one environmental condition.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a markingapparatus for use in performing a marking operation to indicate apresence or an absence of at least one underground facility. The markingapparatus comprises a hand-held housing, at least one processor disposedwithin the hand-held housing, a holder configured to hold to thehand-held housing at least one marking dispenser containing a markingmaterial, and at least one actuator configured to actuate the markingdispenser to dispense the marking material. The marking apparatusfurther comprises a location tracking system configured to determine alocation of the apparatus, a temperature sensor communicatively coupledto the at least one processor and configured to sense an ambienttemperature of an environment in which the marking apparatus is locatedand provide a first output signal indicative of the ambient temperatureto the at least one processor, and a humidity sensor communicativelycoupled to the at least one processor and configured to sense humidityof the environment in which the marking apparatus is located and providea second output signal indicative of the humidity to the at least oneprocessor. The at least one processor is programmed withprocessor-executable instructions which, when executed, cause the atleast one processor to compare the first output signal to a targetambient temperature range for dispensing the marking material and thesecond output signal to a target humidity range for dispensing themarking material. In response to determining that one or both of thefirst output signal and the second output signal is indicative of anout-of-range ambient temperature and/or out-of-range humidity, the atleast one processor does at least one of (i) generate an alert to atechnician using the marking apparatus and (ii) disable the at least oneactuator.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method forperforming a marking operation to mark a presence or absence of at leastone underground facility using a marking device. The method comprises A)dispensing, via actuation of an actuation system of the marking device,marking material onto a target surface, B) detecting, via at least oneinput device of the marking device, at least one environmental conditionof an environment in which the marking device is located, and C) logginginto local memory of the marking device marking information relating atleast in part to A) and B).

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatusfor marking a presence or absence of an underground facility. Theapparatus comprises at least one actuator to control dispensing of amarking material for marking the presence or absence of the undergroundfacility. The apparatus further comprises a memory to storeprocessor-executable instructions, at least one communication interface,and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least oneactuator, the memory, and the at least one communication interface. Uponexecution of the processor-executable instructions, the processorcontrols the at least one communication interface to receiveenvironmental information regarding at least one environmental conditionof an environment in which the apparatus is located, and stores at leastsome of the received environmental information in the memory.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a markingapparatus for use in performing a marking operation to indicate apresence or an absence of at least one underground facility, comprisinga hand-held housing and at least one processor disposed within thehand-held housing. The marking apparatus further comprises a holderconfigured to hold to the hand-held housing at least one markingdispenser containing a marking material, a location tracking systemconfigured to determine a location of the apparatus, and at least oneinput device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor andconfigured to sense an operating condition of the apparatus and providean output signal to the at least one processor indicative of the sensedoperating condition.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a markingapparatus for use in performing a marking operation to indicate apresence or an absence of at least one underground facility. The markingapparatus comprises a housing, at least one processor disposed withinthe housing, a holder configured to hold to the housing at least onemarking dispenser containing a marking material, and at least oneactuator configured to actuate the marking dispenser to dispense themarking material. The marking apparatus further comprises an inputdevice communicatively coupled to the at least one processor to providean input signal to the at least one processor. The at least oneprocessor is programmed with processor-executable instructions which,when executed, cause the at least one processor to compare the inputsignal to a target value or range of values to assess whether anout-of-tolerance condition is indicated by the input signal. If anout-of-tolerance condition is indicated by the input signal, the atleast one processor does at least one of: (a) log an out-of-toleranceindication into an electronic record; (b) generate an alert to a user ofthe marking apparatus that an out-of-tolerance condition has beendetected; and (c) disable the at least one actuator.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method foruse of a marking device, the marking device for use in performing amarking operation to indicate a presence or an absence of at least oneunderground facility. The method comprises A) acquiring, using anenvironmental sensor of the marking device, environmental informationrepresentative of at least one environmental condition of an environmentin which the marking device is located. The method further comprises B)dispensing a marking material using a marking dispenser of the markingdevice to mark the presence or the absence of the at least oneunderground facility. The method further comprises C) controlling B)based at least in part on the environmental information acquired in A).

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method foruse of a marking device, the marking device for use in performing amarking operation to indicate a presence or an absence of at least oneunderground facility. The method comprises A) acquiring, using anenvironmental sensor of the marking device, environmental informationrepresentative of at least one environmental condition of an environmentin which the marking device is located. The method further comprises B)comparing the environmental information to a target value or range ofvalues to assess whether an out-of-tolerance condition with respect tothe environment is indicated by the environmental information. Themethod further comprises C) if an out-of-tolerance condition isindicated, doing at least one of: (i) logging an out-of-toleranceindication into an electronic record; (ii) generating an alert to a userof the marking apparatus that an out-of-tolerance condition has beendetected; and (iii) controlling dispensing of marking material by themarking device.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method forusing a marking device, the marking device for use in performing amarking operation to indicate a presence or an absence of at least oneunderground facility. The method comprises A) acquiring, using anoperational sensor of the marking device, operating informationrepresentative of at least one operating condition of the markingdevice. The method further comprises B) dispensing a marking materialusing a marking dispenser of the marking device to mark the presence orthe absence of the at least one underground facility. The method furthercomprises C) controlling B) based at least in part on the operatinginformation acquired in A).

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method forusing operational data collected as part of a marking operation toindicate the presence or absence of an underground facility. The methodcomprises receiving the operational data representative of an operatingcondition of a marking device used to perform the marking operation, andanalyzing the operational data for an operating pattern of a technicianusing the marking device.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to at least onecomputer-readable storage medium storing an electronic record associatedwith a marking operation. The electronic record comprises at least onedata set representing a technician signature with respect to atechnician's operation of a marking device for performing the markingoperation.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a markingapparatus for performing a marking operation to mark on ground,pavement, or other surface a presence or an absence of at least oneunderground facility. The apparatus comprises an actuator to dispense amarking material so as to form at least one locate mark on the ground,pavement or other surface to mark the presence or the absence of the atleast one underground facility. The apparatus further comprises at leastone input device to provide marking information regarding the markingoperation. The at least one input device is configured to sense at leastone environmental condition of an environment in which the apparatus islocated and provide an output signal indicative of the sensed at leastone environmental condition. The apparatus further comprises at leastone processor communicatively coupled to the actuator and the at leastone input device so as to receive the output signal. In oneimplementation, the apparatus further comprises a memory to storeprocessor-executable instructions. The marking information includesenvironmental information represented at least in part by the outputsignal indicative of the sensed at least one environmental condition. Inone aspect of this implementation, upon execution of theprocessor-executable instructions, the processor logs into the memory atleast some of the environmental information. In another aspect, theprocessor logs into the memory the at least some of the environmentalinformation based at least in part on at least one actuation of theactuator.

For purposes of the present disclosure, the term “dig area” refers to aspecified area of a work site within which there is a plan to disturbthe ground (e.g., excavate, dig holes and/or trenches, bore, etc.), andbeyond which there is no plan to excavate in the immediate surroundings.Thus, the metes and bounds of a dig area are intended to providespecificity as to where some disturbance to the ground is planned at agiven work site. It should be appreciated that a given work site mayinclude multiple dig areas.

The term “facility” refers to one or more lines, cables, fibers,conduits, transmitters, receivers, or other physical objects orstructures capable of or used for carrying, transmitting, receiving,storing, and providing utilities, energy, data, substances, and/orservices, and/or any combination thereof. The term “undergroundfacility” means any facility beneath the surface of the ground. Examplesof facilities include, but are not limited to, oil, gas, water, sewer,power, telephone, data transmission, cable television (TV), and/orinternet services.

The term “locate device” includes one or both of a locate transmitterand a locate receiver (which in some instances may also be referred tocollectively as a “locate instrument set,” or simply “locate set”).

The term “marking device” refers to any apparatus, mechanism, or otherdevice that employs a marking dispenser for causing a marking materialand/or marking object to be dispensed, or any apparatus, mechanism, orother device for electronically indicating (e.g., logging in memory) alocation, such as a location of an underground facility. Additionally,the term “marking dispenser” refers to any apparatus, mechanism, orother device for dispensing and/or otherwise using, separately or incombination, a marking material and/or a marking object. An example of amarking dispenser may include, but is not limited to, a pressurized canof marking paint. The term “marking material” means any material,substance, compound, and/or element, used or which may be usedseparately or in combination to mark, signify, and/or indicate. Examplesof marking materials may include, but are not limited to, paint, chalk,dye, and/or iron. The term “marking object” means any object and/orobjects used or which may be used separately or in combination to mark,signify, and/or indicate. Examples of marking objects may include, butare not limited to, a flag, a dart, and arrow, and/or an RFID markingball. It is contemplated that marking material may include markingobjects. It is further contemplated that the terms “marking materials”or “marking objects” may be used interchangeably in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

The term “locate mark” means any mark, sign, and/or object employed toindicate the presence or absence of any underground facility. Examplesof locate marks may include, but are not limited to, marks made withmarking materials, marking objects, global positioning or otherinformation, and/or any other means. Locate marks may be represented inany form including, without limitation, physical, visible, electronic,and/or any combination thereof.

The terms “actuate” or “trigger” (verb form) are used interchangeably torefer to starting or causing any device, program, system, and/or anycombination thereof to work, operate, and/or function in response tosome type of signal or stimulus. Examples of actuation signals orstimuli may include, but are not limited to, any local or remote,physical, audible, inaudible, visual, non-visual, electronic,mechanical, electromechanical, biomechanical, biosensing or othersignal, instruction, or event. The terms “actuator” or “trigger” (nounform) are used interchangeably to refer to any method or device used togenerate one or more signals or stimuli to cause or causing actuation.Examples of an actuator/trigger may include, but are not limited to, anyform or combination of a lever, switch, program, processor, screen,microphone for capturing audible commands, and/or other device ormethod. An actuator/trigger may also include, but is not limited to, adevice, software, or program that responds to any movement and/orcondition of a user, such as, but not limited to, eye movement, brainactivity, heart rate, other data, and/or the like, and generates one ormore signals or stimuli in response thereto. In the case of a markingdevice or other marking mechanism (e.g., to physically or electronicallymark a facility or other feature), actuation may cause marking materialto be dispensed, as well as various data relating to the markingoperation (e.g., geographic location, time stamps, characteristics ofmaterial dispensed, etc.) to be logged in an electronic file stored inmemory. In the case of a locate device or other locate mechanism (e.g.,to physically locate a facility or other feature), actuation may cause adetected signal strength, signal frequency, depth, or other informationrelating to the locate operation to be logged in an electronic filestored in memory.

The terms “locate and marking operation,” “locate operation,” and“locate” generally are used interchangeably and refer to any activity todetect, infer, and/or mark the presence or absence of an undergroundfacility. In some contexts, the term “locate operation” is used to morespecifically refer to detection of one or more underground facilities,and the term “marking operation” is used to more specifically refer tousing a marking material and/or one or more marking objects to mark apresence or an absence of one or more underground facilities. The term“locate technician” refers to an individual performing a locateoperation. A locate and marking operation often is specified inconnection with a dig area, at least a portion of which may be excavatedor otherwise disturbed during excavation activities.

The term “user” refers to an individual utilizing a locate device and/ora marking device and may include, but is not limited to, land surveyors,locate technicians, and support personnel.

The terms “locate request” and “excavation notice” are usedinterchangeably to refer to any communication to request a locate andmarking operation. The term “locate request ticket” (or simply “ticket”)refers to any communication or instruction to perform a locateoperation. A ticket might specify, for example, the address ordescription of a dig area to be marked, the day and/or time that the digarea is to be marked, and/or whether the user is to mark the excavationarea for certain gas, water, sewer, power, telephone, cable television,and/or some other underground facility. The term “historical ticket”refers to past tickets that have been completed.

The following U.S. published applications and patents are herebyincorporated herein by reference:

-   U.S. Pat. No. 7,640,105, issued Dec. 29, 2009, filed Mar. 13, 2007,    and entitled “Marking System and Method With Location and/or Time    Tracking;”-   U.S. publication no. 2008-0245299-A1, published Oct. 9, 2008, filed    Apr. 4, 2007, and entitled “Marking System and Method;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0013928-A1, published Jan. 15, 2009, filed    Sep. 24, 2008, and entitled “Marking System and Method;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0238414-A1, published Sep. 24, 2009, filed    Mar. 18, 2008, and entitled “Virtual White Lines for Delimiting    Planned Excavation Sites;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0241045-A1, published Sep. 24, 2009, filed    Sep. 26, 2008, and entitled “Virtual White Lines for Delimiting    Planned Excavation Sites;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0238415-A1, published Sep. 24, 2009, filed    Sep. 26, 2008, and entitled “Virtual White Lines for Delimiting    Planned Excavation Sites;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0241046-A1, published Sep. 24, 2009, filed    Jan. 16, 2009, and entitled “Virtual White Lines for Delimiting    Planned Excavation Sites;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0238416-A1, published Sep. 24, 2009, filed    Jan. 16, 2009, and entitled “Virtual White Lines for Delimiting    Planned Excavation Sites;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0237408-A1, published Sep. 24, 2009, filed    Jan. 16, 2009, and entitled “Virtual White Lines for Delimiting    Planned Excavation Sites;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0202101-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Feb. 12, 2008, and entitled “Electronic Manifest of Underground    Facility Locate Marks;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0202110-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Sep. 11, 2008, and entitled “Electronic Manifest of Underground    Facility Locate Marks;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0201311-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Jan. 30, 2009, and entitled “Electronic Manifest of Underground    Facility Locate Marks;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0202111-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Jan. 30, 2009, and entitled “Electronic Manifest of Underground    Facility Locate Marks;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0204625-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Feb. 5, 2009, and entitled “Electronic Manifest of Underground    Facility Locate Operation;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0204466-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Sep. 4, 2008, and entitled “Ticket Approval System For and Method of    Performing Quality Control In Field Service Applications;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0207019-A1, published Aug. 20, 2009, filed    Apr. 30, 2009, and entitled “Ticket Approval System For and Method    of Performing Quality Control In Field Service Applications;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0210284-A1, published Aug. 20, 2009, filed    Apr. 30, 2009, and entitled “Ticket Approval System For and Method    of Performing Quality Control In Field Service Applications;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0210297-A1, published Aug. 20, 2009, filed    Apr. 30, 2009, and entitled “Ticket Approval System For and Method    of Performing Quality Control In Field Service Applications;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0210298-A1, published Aug. 20, 2009, filed    Apr. 30, 2009, and entitled “Ticket Approval System For and Method    of Performing Quality Control In Field Service Applications;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0210285-A1, published Aug. 20, 2009, filed    Apr. 30, 2009, and entitled “Ticket Approval System For and Method    of Performing Quality Control In Field Service Applications;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0324815-A1, published Dec. 31, 2009, filed    Apr. 24, 2009, and entitled “Marking Apparatus and Marking Methods    Using Marking Dispenser with Machine-Readable ID Mechanism;”-   U.S. publication no. 2010-0006667-A1, published Jan. 14, 2010, filed    Apr. 24, 2009, and entitled, “Marker Detection Mechanisms for use in    Marking Devices And Methods of Using Same;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0204238-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Feb. 2, 2009, and entitled “Electronically Controlled Marking    Apparatus and Methods;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0208642-A1, published Aug. 20, 2009, filed    Feb. 2, 2009, and entitled “Marking Apparatus and Methods For    Creating an Electronic Record of Marking Operations;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0210098-A1, published Aug. 20, 2009, filed    Feb. 2, 2009, and entitled “Marking Apparatus and Methods For    Creating an Electronic Record of Marking Apparatus Operations;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0201178-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Feb. 2, 2009, and entitled “Methods For Evaluating Operation of    Marking Apparatus;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0238417-A1, published Sep. 24, 2009, filed    Feb. 6, 2009, and entitled “Virtual White Lines for Indicating    Planned Excavation Sites on Electronic Images;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0202112-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Feb. 11, 2009, and entitled “Searchable Electronic Records of    Underground Facility Locate Marking Operations;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0204614-A1, published Aug. 13, 2009, filed    Feb. 11, 2009, and entitled “Searchable Electronic Records of    Underground Facility Locate Marking Operations;”-   U.S. publication no. 2009-0327024-A1, published Dec. 31, 2009, filed    Jun. 26, 2009, and entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Quality    Assessment of a Field Service Operation;”-   U.S. publication no. 2010-0010862-A1, published Jan. 14, 2010, filed    Aug. 7, 2009, and entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Quality    Assessment of a Field Service Operation Based on Geographic    Information;”-   U.S. publication No. 2010-0010863-A1, published Jan. 14, 2010, filed    Aug. 7, 2009, and entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Quality    Assessment of a Field Service Operation Based on Multiple Scoring    Categories;” and-   U.S. publication no. 2010-0010882-A1, published Jan. 14, 2010, filed    Aug. 7, 2009, and entitled, “Methods and Apparatus for Quality    Assessment of a Field Service Operation Based on Dynamic Assessment    Parameters.”

It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing conceptsand additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided suchconcepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being partof the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, allcombinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of thisdisclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subjectmatter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminologyexplicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosureincorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistentwith the particular concepts disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a conventional marking device in an actuatedand non-actuated state, respectively;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a data acquisition systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention for creatingelectronic records of marking operations based on actuations of amarking device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the data acquisition system of FIG. 2,illustrating an exemplary marking device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a portion of an actuation system of themarking device of FIG. 3 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 illustrates various components of an actuation system 120according to other embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary marking device being usedfor marking a dotting pattern, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary marking device being usedfor marking a lines pattern, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view that shows further details of the lines pattern ofFIG. 7, in connection with the information acquired for purposes ofcreating an electronic record according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for collecting markinginformation for generation of an electronic record, according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an exemplary data structure for anelectronic record of a marking operation including information retrievedduring one or more actuations of a marking device, according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B conceptually illustrate a portion of an actuationsystem of a marking device including a mechanical coupler, in which themarking device has been modified to accommodate a landmark mode,according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for operating a markingdevice having a marking mode and a landmark mode so as to collectmarking information and/or environmental landmark information, andgenerate an electronic record of such information, according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an exemplary data structure for anelectronic record of a marking operation including both markinginformation and landmark information retrieved during actuations of amarking device, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for displaying a visualrepresentation of a marking operation in a display field having apredetermined scale, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is an example of a visual representation showing electroniclocate marks and identifiers for environmental landmarks based oncollected data corresponding to respective actuations of a markingdevice during marking operations, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 16 is an example of another visual representation of markingoperations, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an example of another visual representation of markingoperations, according to another embodiment of the present invention, inwhich electronic locate marks and identifiers for environmentallandmarks are overlaid on a digital image of a work site/dig area;

FIG. 18 shows a generic display device having a display field in whichone or more display layers and/or sub-layers of marking information,landmark information, and/or image/reference information may beselectively enabled or disabled for display, according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of a data acquisition systemincluding a marking device with both environmental sensors andoperational sensors, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing details of the environmental sensorsshown in FIG. 19, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing details of the operational sensorsshown in FIG. 19, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a functional block diagram of the marking device of FIG. 19,according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a non-limiting physicalconfiguration of the marking device of FIG. 22, according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram of an exemplary data structure of anelectronic record of a marking operation including information receivedfrom environmental sensors and operational sensors of the markingdevice, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 illustrates a functional block diagram of an example of anoperations monitoring application for monitoring the use of locatingequipment such as a marking device, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 26 illustrates a functional block diagram of an example of a locateoperations system including the operations monitoring application ofFIG. 25, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 illustrates a method of operation of a locate operations systemincluding an operations monitoring application, according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration fordetermining the difference in location between two points of a markingdevice;

FIG. 29 illustrates a marking pattern that may be made by a technicianusing a marking device according to various of the embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 30 illustrates a portion of a marking device including tactileindicators, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Following below are more detailed descriptions of various conceptsrelated to, and embodiments of, inventive marking apparatus havingenhanced features for underground facility marking operations, andassociated methods and systems. It should be appreciated that variousconcepts introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may beimplemented in any of numerous ways, as the disclosed concepts are notlimited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specificimplementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrativepurposes.

I. OVERVIEW

In some embodiments of the present invention, a marking device employedby a locate technician to dispense marking material is particularlyconfigured to acquire “marking information” relating to a markingoperation based at least in part on actuations of the marking device,and create an electronic record of at least some of the markinginformation. As discussed in greater detail below, examples of markinginformation relating to the marking operation that may be logged into anelectronic record may include, but are not limited to:

-   -   timing information (e.g., one or more time stamps) associated        with one or more actuations of the marking device and/or one or        more events occurring during a given actuation;    -   geographic information (e.g., one or more geographic        coordinates) associated with one or more actuations of the        marking device (in some instances, the geographic information        may be accompanied by timing information, such as a time stamp,        for each acquisition of geographic information);    -   marking material information: one or more        aspects/characteristics of a marking material (e.g., a color,        brand, type, serial number, UPC code, weight, inventory        information, etc. associated with the marking material)        dispensed in response to one or more actuations of the marking        device;    -   service-related information: one or more identifiers for the        locate technician performing the marking operation, the marking        device itself (e.g., a serial number of the marking device),        and/or the locate contractor dispatching the locate technician;    -   ticket information: information relating to one or more        facilities to be marked, location information (e.g., an address,        geo-coordinates, and/or text description) relating to the work        site and/or dig area in which the locate and marking operation        is performed, ground type information (e.g., a description of        the ground at which marking material is dispensed), excavator        information, other text-based information, etc.;    -   environmental information: information derived from one or more        environmental sensors associated with the marking device,        examples of which sensors include, but are not limited to,        temperature sensors, humidity sensors, light sensors, altitude        sensors, image capture devices and audio recorders;    -   operational information: information derived from one or more        operational sensors associated with the marking device, examples        of which sensors include, but are not limited to, operational        temperature sensors, a compass, an inclinometer, an        accelerometer, a yaw rate sensor, a proximity sensor, a pressure        sensor, one or more device health sensors, image capture        devices, and audio devices; and    -   device health information: information about the status of one        or more components of a locate device, such as battery status,        WiFi connectivity status, GPS receiver status (e.g., GPS signal        strength/quality, number of satellites in view), etc.

Marking information including any or all of the foregoing types ofinformation may be logged/stored in local memory of a marking device,formatted in various manners, processed and/or analyzed at the markingdevice itself, and/or transmitted to another device (e.g., a remotecomputer/server) for storage, processing and/or analysis. In particular,environmental and/or operational information may be used to controloperation of the marking device, assess out-of-tolerance conditions inconnection with use of the marking device, and/or provide alerts orother feedback. In yet other embodiments, operational information may beanalyzed and processed so as to improve a determination of a location(e.g., GPS coordinates) of a dispensing tip of the marking device duringuse.

In other embodiments, a marking device may be configured to operate inmultiple different modes so as to collect various information relatingnot only to a marking operation itself, but additionally (oralternatively) various information relating to the work site/dig area inwhich the marking operation is performed. For example, in oneimplementation, the marking device may be configured to operate in afirst “marking mode” as well as a second “landmark identification mode”(or more simply “landmark mode”). In a “marking mode,” marking materialmay be dispensed with respective actuations of the marking device andvarious marking information transmitted and/or stored in an electronicrecord attendant to this process. Alternatively, in a “landmark mode,”marking material is not necessarily dispensed with an actuation of themarking device (and in some instances the dispensing of marking materialis specifically precluded); instead, a technician positions the markingdevice proximate to an environmental landmark of interest and, uponactuation, the marking device collects various information about thelandmark (hereafter referred to as “landmark information”). As discussedin greater detail below, landmark information may include, but is notlimited to, geo-location data of an environmental landmark, type ofenvironmental landmark, and a time stamp for any acquired informationrelating to an environmental landmark.

In other embodiments, a marking device may be operated in a “solo” modeor a “group” mode. In particular, in a “solo” mode, the marking devicemay be operated as an individual, independent device to collect, storeand/or transmit data, whereas in “group” mode, a marking device may actas a “worker” device or a “leader” device to facilitate consolidation ofdata collected by multiple devices (e.g., relating to a same ticket) toa host server.

In yet other embodiments, a marking device may be equipped with anenhanced user interface having tactile functionality; in particular, themarking device may include one or more tactile indicators (e.g.,vibrating devices) disposed, for example, in a handle, joy stick,actuator or elsewhere on the device, to provide a tactile indication toa technician using the marking device (e.g., as feedback in connectionwith an operating mode, operating condition, environmental condition,etc.).

In various implementations of the methods and apparatus describedherein, data from one or more electronic records, including one or morepieces of marking information and/or one or more pieces of landmarkinformation, may be processed and analyzed to provide insight into themarking operation. In one embodiment, a computer-generated image orother visual representation based on the marking information and/orlandmark information may be electronically rendered; for example, thisvisual representation may provide electronic indications (“electroniclocate marks”) of the relative placement of marking material dispensedduring a marking operation, and electronic locate marks corresponding todifferent types of facilities may be color-coded. Additionally,electronic identifiers (e.g., icons, shapes, symbols, patterns, etc.) ofone or more environmental landmarks may be included in a visualrepresentation, alone or together with electronic locate marks. Such avisual representation may be used, for example, to provide immediatefeedback to the locate technician (e.g., via a display device associatedwith the marking device), provide essentially real-time feedback to asupervisor monitoring the technician's work from a remote location,provide a visual record of the marking information and/or landmarkinformation (e.g., for archiving purposes once one or more electronicrecords are generated), and/or to verify the quality (e.g., accuracy andcompleteness) of work performed during a locate and marking operation.

II. MARKING DEVICE

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a functional block diagram and perspectiveview, respectively, of one example of a data acquisition system 100,including a marking device 110 and optionally a remote computer 150,according to one embodiment of the present invention. One or both of themarking device 110 and the remote computer 150 of the data acquisitionsystem 100 may be configured to sense one or more actuations of themarking device 110 (e.g., to dispense marking material during a markingoperation), and collect information based on one or more actuations ofthe marking device so as to generate an electronic record.

As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment marking device 110 includescontrol electronics 112, the components of which are powered by a powersource 114. Power source 114 may be any power source that is suitablefor use in a portable device, such as, but not limited to, one or morerechargeable batteries, one or more non-rechargeable batteries, a solarphotovoltaic panel, a standard AC power plug feeding an AC-to-DCconverter, and the like.

The marking device 110 is configured to hold a marking dispenser 116,which as shown in FIG. 3 is loaded into a marking material holder 140 ofthe marking device 110. In one exemplary implementation, the markingdispenser 116 is an aerosol paint canister that contains paint; however,it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited inthis respect, as a marking material dispensed by the marking device 110may be any material, substance, compound, and/or element, used to mark,signify, and/or indicate. Examples of marking materials may include, butare not limited to, paint, chalk, dye, and/or marking powder.

As also shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment control electronics 112 ofmarking device 110 may include, but are not limited to, a processor 118,at least a portion of an actuation system 120 (another portion of whichmay include one or more mechanical elements), a local memory 122, acommunication interface 124, a user interface 126, a timing system 128,and a location tracking system 130.

The processor 118 may be any general-purpose processor, controller, ormicrocontroller device. Local memory 122 may be any volatile ornon-volatile data storage device, such as, but not limited to, a randomaccess memory (RAM) device and a removable memory device (e.g., auniversal serial bus (USB) flash drive, a multimedia card (MMC), asecure digital card (SD), a compact flash card (CF), etc.). As discussedfurther below, the local memory may store a marking data algorithm 134,which may be a set of processor-executable instructions that whenexecuted by the processor 118 causes the processor to control variousother components of the marking device 110 so as to generate anelectronic record 135 of a marking operation, which record also may bestored in the local memory 122 and/or transmitted in essentiallyreal-time (as it is being generated) or after completion of a markingoperation to a remote device (e.g., remote computer 150).

In one exemplary implementation, a Linux-based processing system forembedded handheld and/or wireless devices may be employed in the markingdevice 110 to implement various components of the control electronics112. For example, the Fingertip4™ processing system, including a MarvellPXA270 processor and available from InHand Electronics, Inc.(www.inhandelectronics.com/products/fingertip4), may be used. Inaddition to the PXA270 processor (e.g., serving as the processor 118),the Fingertip4™ includes flash memory and SDRAM (e.g., serving as localmemory 122), multiple serial ports, a USB port, and other I/O interfaces(e.g., to facilitate interfacing with one or more input devices andother components of the marking device), supports a variety of wired andwireless interfaces (WiFi, Bluetooth®, GPS, Ethernet, any IEEE 802.11interface, or any other suitable wireless interface) to facilitateimplementation of the communication interface 124, and connects to awide variety of LCD displays (to facilitate implementation of a userinterface/display).

Communication interface 124 of marking device 110 may be any wiredand/or wireless communication interface by which information may beexchanged between marking device 110 and an external or remote device,such as a remote computing device that is elsewhere in the dig area(i.e., not a part of the marking device 110) or outside the dig area.For example, data that is provided by components of data acquisitionsystem 100 and/or stored in local memory 122 (e.g., one or moreelectronic records 135) may be transmitted via communication interface124 to a remote computer, such as remote computer 150, for processing.Examples of wired communication interfaces may include, but are notlimited to, USB ports, RS232 connectors, RJ45 connectors, Ethernet, andany combination thereof. Examples of wireless communication interfacesmay include, but are not limited to, an Intranet connection, Internet,Bluetooth® technology, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, IEEE 802.11 technology (e.g.,operating at a minimum bandwidth of 54 Mbps, or any other suitablebandwidth), radio frequency (RF), Infrared Data Association (IrDA)compatible protocols, Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks(WAN), Shared Wireless Access Protocol (SWAP), any combination thereof,and other types of wireless networking protocols. The wireless interfacemay be capable of capturing signals that reflect a user's intent. Forexample, the wireless interface may include a microphone that cancapture a user's intent by capturing the user's audible commands.Alternatively, the wireless interface may interact with a device thatmonitors a condition of the user, such as eye movement, brain activity,and/or heart rate.

User interface 126 of marking device 110 may be any mechanism orcombination of mechanisms by which a user may operate data acquisitionsystem 100 and by which information that is generated by dataacquisition system 100 may be presented to the user. For example, userinterface 126 may include, but is not limited to, a display device(including integrated displays and external displays, such as Heads-UpDisplays (HUDs)), a touch screen, one or more manual pushbuttons, amicrophone to provide for audible commands, one or more light-emittingdiode (LED) indicators, one or more toggle switches, a keypad, an audiooutput (e.g., speaker, buzzer, and alarm), and any combination thereof.In one implementation, the user interface 126 includes a “menu/on”button to power up the marking device and provide a menu-drivengraphical user interface (GUI) displayed by the display device (e.g.,menu items and/or icons displayed on the display device) and navigatedby the technician via a joystick or a set of four “up/down/left/right”buttons, as well as a “select/ok” button to take some action pursuant tothe selection of a menu item/icon. As described below, the display mayalso be used in some embodiments of the invention to display informationrelating to a placement of marking material in a dig area, a location ofan underground facility in a dig area, or any other suitable informationthat may be displayed based on information acquired to create anelectronic record 135.

In various embodiments, the one or more interfaces of the marking device110—including the communication interface 124 and user interface 126—maybe used as input devices to receive information to be stored in thememory 122 as part of an electronic record of a marking operation. Insome cases, marking information received via the interface(s) (e.g., viathe communication interface 124) may include ticket informationregarding underground facilities to be marked during a markingoperation. As another example, using an interface such as the userinterface 126, service-related information may be input, including anidentifier for the marking device used by the technician, an identifierfor a technician, and/or an identifier for the technician's employer.Alternatively, some or all of the service-related information similarlymay be received via the communication interface 124 (and likewise someor all of the ticket information may be received via the user interface126).

The actuation system 120 of marking device 110 shown in the blockdiagram of FIG. 2 may include both electrical and mechanical elementsaccording to various embodiments discussed in further detail below, andfor purposes of illustration is shown in FIG. 2 as included as part ofthe control electronics 112. The actuation system 120 may include amechanical and/or electrical actuator mechanism (e.g., see the actuator142 shown in FIG. 3) to provide one or more signals or stimuli as aninput to the actuation system 120. Upon receiving one or more signals orstimuli (e.g., actuation/triggering by a locate technician or otheruser), the actuation system 120 causes marking material to be dispensedfrom marking dispenser 116. In various embodiments, the actuation system120 may employ any of a variety of mechanical and/or electricaltechniques (e.g., one or more switches or other circuit components, adedicated processor or the processor 118 executing instructions, one ormore mechanical elements, various types of transmitters and receivers,or any combination of the foregoing), as would be readily appreciated bythose of skill in the relevant arts, to cause the marking dispenser 116to dispense marking material in response to one or more signals orstimuli. The actuation system 120 also provides one or more outputsignals in the form of an actuation signal 121 to the processor 118 toindicate one or more actuations of the marking device, in response towhich the processor 118 may acquire/collect various marking informationand log data into the electronic record 135. Additional details ofexemplary actuation system implementations are provided below inconnection with FIGS. 3 through 5.

In some embodiments, the actuation system 120 may be configured so asnot to cause marking material to be dispensed from marking dispenser 116in response to one or more signals or stimuli; rather, the actuationsystem may merely facilitate a logging of data from one or more inputdevices in response to operation of an actuator/trigger, withoutnecessarily dispensing marking material. In some instances, this mayfacilitate “simulation” of a marking operation (i.e., simulating thedispensing of marking material) by providing an actuation signal 121 tothe processor 118 indicating one or more simulated actuation events, inresponse to which the processor may cause the logging of various datafor creating an electronic record without any marking material actuallybeing dispensed.

Location tracking system 130 of marking device 110 constitutes anothertype of input device that provides marking information, and may includeany device that can determine its geographical location to a certaindegree of accuracy. For example, location tracking system 130 mayinclude a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or a globalnavigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver. A GPS receiver may provide,for example, any standard format data stream, such as a National MarineElectronics Association (NMEA) data stream, or other data formats. Anerror correction component 131 may be, but is not limited to, anymechanism for improving the accuracy of the geographic informationprovided by location tracking system 130; for example, error correctioncomponent 131 may be an algorithm for correcting any offsets (e.g., dueto local disturbances in the atmosphere) in the geo-location data oflocation tracking system 130. While shown as part of a local locationtracking system of the marking device 110, error correction component131 alternatively may reside at a remote computing device, such asremote computer 150. In other embodiments, location tracking system 130may include any device or mechanism that may determine location by anyother means, such as performing triangulation by use of cellularradiotelephone towers.

In one exemplary implementation, the location tracking system 130 mayinclude an ISM300F2-05-V0005 GPS module available from Inventek Systems,LLC of Westford, Mass. (seewww.inventeksys.com/html/ism300f2-c5-v0005.html). The Inventek GPSmodule includes two UARTs (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter)for communication with the processor 118, supports both the SIRF Binaryand NMEA-0183 protocols (depending on firmware selection), and has aninformation update rate of 5 Hz. A variety of geographic locationinformation may be requested by the processor 118 and provided by theGPS module to the processor 118 including, but not limited to, time(coordinated universal time—UTC), date, latitude, north/south indicator,longitude, east/west indicator, number and identification of satellitesused in the position solution, number and identification of GPSsatellites in view and their elevation, azimuth and SNR values, anddilution of precision values. Accordingly, it should be appreciated thatin some implementations the location tracking system 130 may provide awide variety of geographic information as well as timing information(e.g., one or more time stamps) to the processor 118.

In another embodiment, location tracking system 130 may not residelocally on marking device 110. Instead, location tracking system 130 mayreside on any on-site computer, which serves as a location referencepoint, to which the location of marking device 110 may be correlated byany other means, such as, but not limited to, by a triangulationtechnique between the on-site computer and marking device 110.

With respect to other input devices of the marking device 110 that mayprovide marking information, the control electronics 112 may alsoinclude a timing system 128 having an internal clock (not shown), suchas a crystal oscillator device, for processor 118. Additionally, timingsystem 128 may include a mechanism for registering time with a certaindegree of accuracy (e.g., accuracy to the minute, second, ormillisecond) and may also include a mechanism for registering thecalendar date. In various implementations, the timing system 128 may becapable of registering the time and date using its internal clock, oralternatively timing system 128 may receive its time and dateinformation from the location tracking system 130 (e.g., a GPS system)or from an external timing system, such as a remote computer or network,via communication interface 124. In yet other implementations, adedicated timing system for providing timing information to be logged inan electronic record 135 may be optional, and timing information forlogging into an electronic record may be obtained from the locationtracking system 130 (e.g., GPS latitude and longitude coordinates with acorresponding time stamp). Timing information may include, but is notlimited to, a period of time, timestamp information, date, and/orelapsed time.

Marking material detection mechanism 132 of the marking device 110 shownin FIG. 2 is another type of input device that provides markinginformation, and may be any mechanism or mechanisms for determining apresence or absence of a marking dispenser 116 in or otherwise coupledto the marking device 110, as well as determining certainattributes/characteristics of the marking material within markingdispenser 116 when the dispenser is placed in or coupled to the markingdevice. As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments the marking materialdetection mechanism 132 may be disposed generally in an area proximateto a marking material holder 140 in which a marking dispenser 116 may beplaced.

For example, in one embodiment, the marking material detection mechanism132 may include one or more switch devices (e.g., a make/break singlepole/single throw contact switch) disposed at one or more points alongthe marking material holder 140 and electrically coupled to theprocessor 118. The switch device(s) may also be coupled to ground or aDC supply voltage, such that when the switch device is in a first state(e.g., closed/making contact) the ground or DC supply voltage is passedto the processor 118 (e.g., via an I/O pin of the processor whichprovides an interrupt to, or is periodically monitored by, theprocessor), and when the switch is in a second state (e.g., open/nocontact) the ground or DC supply voltage is not passed to the processor118. When the marking dispenser 116 is present in the holder 140, theswitch device(s) is in one of two possible states and when there is nomarking dispenser the switch device(s) is in another of the two possiblestates (e.g., the marking dispenser, when present, may depress theswitch device(s) so as to make contact and pass the ground/DC voltage tothe processor). In this manner, the marking material detection mechanism132 may provide a signal to the processor indicating the presence orabsence of the marking dispenser 116 in the marking device 110.

The marking material detection mechanism 132 also or alternatively mayinclude a barcode reader to read barcode data from a dispenser 116and/or a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader for readinginformation from an RFID tag that is provided on marking dispenser 116.The RFID tag may include, for example, a unique serial number oruniversal product code (UPC) that corresponds to the brand and/or typeof marking material in marking dispenser 116. The type of informationthat may be encoded within the RFID tag on marking dispenser 116 mayinclude product-specific information for the marking material, but anyinformation of interest may be stored on an RFID tag. For example,user-specific information and/or inventory-related information may bestored on each RFID tag for a marking dispenser 116 to facilitateinventory tracking of marking materials. In particular, an identifierfor a technician may be stored on an RFID tag when the technician isprovided with a marking dispenser 116, and information relating toweight, amount dispensed, and/or amount remaining may be written to theRFID tag whenever the marking dispenser is used.

In one exemplary implementation, the marking material detectionmechanism 132 may include a Micro RWD MIFARE-ICODE RFID reader moduleavailable from IB Technology (Eccel Technology Ltd) of Aylesbury,Buckinghamshire, UK (see www.ibtechnology.co.uk/products/icode.htm). TheMicro RWD reader module includes an RS232 communication interface tofacilitate communication between the processor 118 and the reader module(e.g., via messages sent as a string of ASCII characters), and supportsboth reading information from an RFID tag attached to a markingdispenser as well as writing information to an RFID tag attached to themarking dispenser. In one aspect of an exemplary implementation, anantenna constituted by one or more turns of wire (e.g., two turns of awg26 wire, 6.5 cm in diameter, about 1 uH) is coupled to the Micro RWDreader module and disposed in the marking material holder 140 of themarking device 110 (see FIG. 3), proximate to a marking dispenser 116when placed in the holder 140, so as to capture close near field signals(e.g., from an RFID tag on the dispenser, within about 2 inches) andexclude far field signals. In another aspect, the Micro RWD readermodule may be configured to read RFID tags having an ICODE SLI format(e.g., ISO 15693 ICODE SLI). In yet another aspect, an RFID tag may beaffixed to an aerosol paint can serving as the marking dispenser, suchthat the tag conforms to a plastic cap of the paint can and is disposedat a particular location relative to a notch in the cap (e.g., 90degrees+/−15 degrees from the notch) that allows access to the spraynozzle of the can and is in a relatively predictable positionsubstantially aligned with the antenna when the paint can is placed inthe marking material holder 140. Examples of RFID tags suitable for thispurpose are available from BCS Solutions, Inc. (seewww.bcssolutions.com/solutions/rfid) and include, but are not limitedto, the HF Bullseye Wet Inlay SLA Round 40.

In yet other embodiments, marking material detection mechanism 132 mayalternatively or further be configured to detect properties of markingmaterial as it is dispensed. For example, the marking material detectionmechanism may include one or more of an optical sensor, an olfactorysensor, an auditory sensor (e.g., a microphone), a weight sensor, andany combination thereof. For example, in one embodiment an opticalsensor in the marking device may be used to identify the compositionand/or type of marking material in the marking dispenser by analyzinglight reflected by the material as it is dispensed. Similarly, anolfactory sensor may be used to identify one or more characteristics ofthe marking material based on an odor profile of the material, and anauditory sensor may be used to identify the difference between paintbeing sprayed from an aerosol can and aerosol without paint beingsprayed from a can (e.g., as the dispenser becomes emptied of paint).

In one embodiment, information provided by one or more input devices ofthe marking device 110 (e.g., the timing system 128, the locationtracking system 130, the marking material detection mechanism 132, theuser interface 126, the communication interface 124) is acquired andlogged (stored in memory) upon actuation of the actuation system 120(e.g., triggering an actuator). Some embodiments of the invention mayadditionally or alternatively acquire/log information from one or moreinput devices at one or more times during or throughout an actuation,such as when a technician is holding a mechanical or electrical actuatorfor some period of time and moving to dispense marking material in aline (e.g., see FIG. 7). In various aspects of such embodiments, markinginformation derived from one or more input devices may be collected at astart time of an actuation, at one or more times during an actuation,and in some cases at regular intervals during an actuation (e.g.,several times per second, once per second, once every few seconds).Further, some marking information may be collected at an end of anactuation, such as time information that may indicate a duration of anactuation.

Additionally, it should be appreciated that while some markinginformation may be received via one or more input devices at the startof each marking operation and upon successive actuations of the markingdevice, in other cases some marking information may be collected by orprovided to the marking device once, prior to a marking operation (e.g.,on power-up or reset of the marking device, as part of an electronicinstruction or dispatch by a locate company, and/or in response to arequest/query from a locate technician), and stored in local memory 122for later incorporation into an electronic record. For example, prior toa given marking operation and one or more actuations of the markingdevice, ticket information and/or service-related information may havealready been received (e.g., via the communication interface 124 and/oruser interface 126) and stored in local memory 122. Upon generation ofan electronic record of a given marking operation, informationpreviously received via the interface(s) may be retrieved from the localmemory (if stored there initially) and entered into an electronicrecord, in some case together with information collected pursuant to oneor more actuations of the marking device. Alternatively, ticketinformation and/or service-related information may be received via theinterface(s) and stored in an entry in the electronic record 135“directly” in response to one or more actuations of the marking device(e.g., without being first stored in local memory).

In sum, according to embodiments of the present invention, variousmarking information from one or more input devices, regardless of how orwhen it is received, may be stored in an electronic record of a markingoperation, in which at least some of the marking information is loggedpursuant to one or more actuations of the marking device.

In one embodiment, the optional remote computer 150 of the dataacquisition system 100 may be a centralized computer, such as a centralserver of an underground facility locate service provider. In anotherembodiment, remote computer 150 may be a computer that is at or near thework site (i.e., “on-site”), e.g., a computer that is present in alocate technician's vehicle.

Whether resident and/or executed on either the marking device 110 or theremote computer 150, as noted above the marking data algorithm 134includes a set of processor-executable instructions (e.g., stored inmemory, such as local memory 122 of the marking device) that, whenexecuted by processor 118 of the marking device 110 or anotherprocessor, processes information (e.g., various marking information)collected in response to (e.g., during) one or more actuations of themarking device 110, and/or in some cases before or after a givenactuation or series of actuations. As also discussed above, according tovarious embodiments the actuations of marking device 110 may effect bothdispensing marking material and logging of marking information, ormerely logging of marking information for other purposes (e.g.,simulating the dispensing of marking material) without dispensingmarking material. In either situation, marking data algorithm 134, whenexecuted by the processor 118, may cause the processor to performcollection, logging/storage (creation of electronic records), and insome instances further processing and analysis of various markinginformation with respect to marking device actuations. For example, asdiscussed in further detail below in connection with FIG. 9, theoperations of marking data algorithm 134 as effected by the processor118 may include, but are not limited to, the following:

-   -   (1) reading in (acquiring) data that is generated by any        component (e.g., one or more input devices); for example, data        may be read in that is acquired at a start of a given actuation,        throughout the duration of the actuation, at the end of the        actuation, before or after the actuation, and any combination        thereof;    -   (2) processing the information that is collected and associating        the collected information with respective actuations; for        example, any information collected may be parsed/packaged so as        to be associated with any one or more actuations of the marking        device, irrespective of when the data was actually acquired;    -   (3) formatting the acquired information, e.g., as multiple        time-stamped event entries constituting actuation data sets        forming an electronic record, wherein each actuation data set        corresponds to a particular actuation; and    -   (4) using respective actuation data sets of an electronic record        to visually recreate the marking operation (e.g., render a        computer-generated representation in a display field, wherein        respective actuation data sets correspond to electronic locate        marks).

It should also be appreciated that the marking data algorithm 134 mayinclude one or more adjustable parameters that govern various aspects ofthe collection and logging of marking information (e.g., the rate atwhich various marking information is collected from one or more inputdevices), and that these parameters may be adjusted or set, for example,by an administrator at a remote computer, after which the marking dataalgorithm is downloaded to the marking device for execution by theprocessor 118. Alternatively, in other implementations, adjustableparameters of a marking data algorithm already resident on a markingdevice may in some cases be adjusted remotely via the communicationinterface, or locally via the user interface.

While the functionality of various components of the marking device 110was discussed above in connection with FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows somestructural aspects of the marking device 110 according to oneembodiment. For example, the marking device 110 may include an elongatedhousing 136 in which is disposed one or more elements of the actuationsystem 120, one or more elements of the control electronics 112 and thepower source 114. Elongated housing 136 may be hollow or may containcertain cavities or molded compartments for installing any componentstherein, such as the various components of marking device 110 that areshown in FIG. 2. The elongated housing 136 and other structural elementsassociated with the housing, as discussed below, may be formed of anyrigid, semi-rigid, strong, and lightweight material, such as, but notlimited to, molded plastic and aluminum.

Incorporated at a proximal end of elongated housing 136 may be a handle138, which provides a convenient grip by which the user (e.g., thelocate technician) may carry the marking device 110 during use (i.e.,the exemplary marking device depicted in FIG. 3 is intended to be ahand-held device). In one implementation, the power source 114 may beprovided in the form of a removable battery pack housing one or morerechargeable batteries that are connected in series or parallel in orderto provide a DC voltage to marking device 110, and disposed within acompartment in the handle 138. Such an arrangement facilitates use ofconventional removable/rechargeable battery packs often employed in avariety of cordless power tools, in which the battery pack similarly issituated in a handle of the tool. It should be appreciated, however,that the power source 114 in the form of a battery pack may be disposedin any of a variety of locations within or coupled to the elongatedhousing 136.

As also shown in FIG. 3, mounted near handle 138 is user interface 126,which may include a display 146. The display 146 may be a touch screendisplay to facilitate interaction with a user/technician, and/or theuser interface also may include one or more buttons, switches,joysticks, a keyboard, and the like to facilitate entry of informationby a user/technician. One or more elements of the control electronics112 (e.g., the processor 118, memory 122, communication interface 124,and timing system 128) also may be located in the proximal end of theelongated housing in the vicinity of the user interface 126 and display146. As with the power source 114, it should be appreciated that one ormore elements of the control electronics 112 may be disposed in any of avariety of locations within or coupled to the elongated housing 136.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the location tracking system 130 similarlymay be positioned on the proximal end of the elongated housing 136 tofacilitate substantially unobstructed exposure to the atmosphere; inparticular, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the location tracking system 130may be situated on an a ground plane 133 (providing an electrical groundat least at the antenna frequency of the location tracking system, e.g.,at approximately 1.5 GHz) that extends from the proximal end of thehousing 136 and is approximately parallel to the ground, surface orpavement when the marking device is being normally operated by atechnician (so as to reduce signal modulation with subtle movements ofthe marking device).

As also shown in FIG. 3, incorporated at the distal end of elongatedhousing 136 is a marking dispenser holder 140 for holding one or moremarking dispensers 116 (e.g., an aerosol paint canister). Dispenser 116may be one or more replaceable dispensers or one or more reusablerefillable dispensers (including a fixed reservoir forming a part of thedevice 110) or any other suitable dispenser. Also situated at the distalend of the housing is the marking material detection mechanism 132 todetect a presence or absence of the marking dispenser 116 in the markingmaterial holder 140, and/or one or more characteristics of the markingmaterial 148, as well as an actuation mechanism 158, which in someimplementations may constitute part of the actuation system 120 and beemployed to interact with the marking dispenser 116 so as to effectdispensing of the marking material 148.

With respect to the actuation system 120, as shown in FIG. 3, at least aportion of the actuation system 120 is indicated generally along thelength of the elongated housing for purposes of illustration. Morespecifically, however, in various implementations the actuation system120 may include multiple components disposed in various places in, on orcoupled to the marking device 110. For example, in the embodiment ofFIG. 3, the actuation system 120 includes an actuator 142, which forexample may be a mechanical mechanism provided at the handle 138 in theform of a trigger that is pulled by a finger or hand of anuser/technician. The actuation system 120 further includes the actuationmechanism 158 disposed at the distal end of the marking device that isresponsive to the actuator 142 to dispense marking material. In general,in various exemplary implementations as discussed in further detailbelow, the actuation system 120 may employ any of a variety ofmechanical and/or electrical techniques to cause the marking dispenser116 to dispense marking material 148 in response to one or more signalsor stimuli. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the signal/stimulus isinitially provided to the actuation system via the mechanical actuator142; i.e., a locate technician or other user triggers (e.g.,pulls/depresses) the actuator 142 to provide a signal/stimulus to theactuation system 120, which in turn operates the actuation mechanism 158to dispense marking material in response to the signal/stimulus.

In response to the signal/stimulus provided by the actuator 142, asdiscussed above the actuation system may also provide an actuationsignal 121 to the processor 118 to indicate an actuation. As discussedin further detail below in connection with FIG. 9, pursuant to theexecution by the processor 118 of the marking data algorithm 134, theactuation signal 121 may be used to cause the logging of informationthat is provided by one or more components of the marking device 110 soas to generate an electronic record of the marking operation.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a portion of the actuation system 120according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A shows theactuator 142 in an un-actuated state, whereas FIG. 4B shows the actuator142 in an actuated state (in which a signal/stimulus is provided by theactuator). In the example of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the actuator 142 iscoupled to a mechanical coupler 152, similar to that shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B, which extends along a length of the elongated housing and is inturn coupled to a mechanical actuation mechanism 158 at the distal endof the housing (not shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) that ultimately effectsdispensing of marking material when the actuator is in the actuatedstate. The portion of the actuation system 120 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4Balso includes a sensor 160 which is configured to provide an actuationsignal 121 to the processor 118 to indicate one or both of therespective actuated and un-actuated states of the actuator 142.

In one implementation, the sensor 160 may include a switch device (e.g.,a make/break single pole/single throw contact switch) disposed along thehandle 138 of the marking device such that, when pulled, the actuatorcontacts (e.g., depresses) the switch causing a state of the switch totoggle. In another implementation, the sensor 160 may include a switchdevice such as a reed (magnetic) switch disposed at some point along thelength of the elongated housing; in such an implementation, themechanical coupler 152 may have a magnet disposed along it at anappropriate position relative to the reed switch, such that movement ofthe mechanical coupler 152 upon actuation of the actuator 142 causes astate of the reed switch to toggle. Electrically, a switch deviceserving as the sensor 160 may be coupled to ground or a DC supplyvoltage, such that when the switch device is in a first state (e.g.,closed/making contact) the ground or DC supply voltage is passed to theprocessor 118 (e.g., via an I/O pin of the processor which provides aninterrupt to, or is periodically monitored by, the processor), and whenthe switch is in a second state (e.g., open/no contact) the ground or DCsupply voltage is not passed to the processor 118. In this manner, thesensor 160 may provide the actuation signal 121 to the processorindicating actuation (and release) of the actuator 142.

FIG. 5 illustrates various components of an actuation system 120according to other embodiments of the present invention. Generallyspeaking, the actuation system 120 may include the actuator 142 and thesensor 160 to detect actuation and release of the actuator 142 (and alsoprovide a corresponding actuation signal 121 representing same to theprocessor 118). While a “trigger-pull” type of actuator 142 is shownprimarily for purposes of illustration in FIG. 5, it should beappreciated that more generally an actuator of the actuation system 120may be implemented by any form or combination of a lever, switch,program, processor, screen, microphone for capturing audible commands,and the like, as discussed above. For example, in one implementation, amicrophone may serve as both the actuator 142 and the sensor 160 shownin FIG. 5 to provide an actuation signal 121 based on audible commands,so as to effect voice-activated actuation of the marking device.

FIG. 5 also shows that the actuation system 120 of this embodimentincludes a link transmitter 168 coupled and responsive to the sensor 160to transmit one or more signals and/or other stimulus via an actuationlink 164, and a link receiver 162 to receive the one or more signalsand/or other stimulus from the actuation link 164. In response to suchsignals and/or other stimulus, the link receiver 162 operates theactuation mechanism 158. The link transmitter 168, the link 164, and thelink receiver 162 may include one or more electrical and/or mechanicalcomponents. For example, the link receiver 162 may include a linearsolenoid mechanically coupled to the actuation mechanism 158 and whosemovement is responsive to one or more signals and/or stimuli receivedfrom the link 164. In various exemplary implementations, the linktransmitter 168 and the link 164 simply may include a wire that couplesthe sensor 160 to the solenoid to activate the solenoid upon changes ofstate in the actuation signal 121. Alternatively, the transmitter 168may be an RF transmitter that is activated in response to the actuationsignal 121, the link 164 may be a wireless link, and the receiver 162may include an RF receiver.

Other examples of transmitter/link/receiver combinations include, butare not limited to, an acoustic transmitter/link/receiver (e.g., a soundwave source that provides a sound wave of a certain tone, duration,and/or amplitude when the actuator is actuated, and a correspondingsound wave detector), an optical transmitter/link/receiver (e.g., alight or laser source that provides an optical signal of a certainwavelength, duration, and/or amplitude when the actuator is actuated,and a corresponding optical detector), a fluid transmitter/link/receiver(e.g., a fluid system that provides a fluid control output of a certainvolume, pressure, and/or duration when the actuator is actuated, and acorresponding fluid sensor for sensing the presence of, for example, ashort blast of water of a certain volume, pressure, and/or duration toindicate an actuation; the fluid system may be, for example, aclosed-loop system that has a source reservoir at the top of the markingdevice, a fluid line in proximity with the fluid sensor, a returnreservoir for capturing water during the actuation process, andappropriate pressure regulation and ducts for cycling water from thereturn reservoir back to the source reservoir), and an airtransmitter/link/receiver (e.g., an air system that provides an aircontrol output of a certain volume, pressure, and/or duration when theactuator is actuated, and a corresponding air sensor for sensing thepresence of, for example, a blast or puff of air of a certain volume,pressure, and/or duration to indicate an actuation).

While not explicitly shown in FIG. 5, in yet other embodiments it shouldbe appreciated that the sensor 160 may be coupled to the processor 118(to provide the actuation signal 121 representing actuation/release ofthe actuator), and in turn the processor may provide a signal to thelink transmitter 168, such that dispensing of marking material may inpart be under the control of the processor 118 executing particularinstructions for this purpose. More specifically, while in someimplementations dispensing of marking material may be directlyresponsive to actuation of the actuator (and cease upon release of theactuator), in other implementations dispensing of marking material maybe initiated in some manner upon actuation of the actuator, but thencontinued dispensing of marking material may not necessarily be dictatedby continued actuation, or release, of the actuator. Rather, theprocessor 118 may provide one or more signals or commands to the linktransmitter 168 to govern dispensing of marking material in some mannerthat does not necessarily track each actuation and release of theactuator.

For example, in one implementation the processor 118 may executeinstructions such that, once the actuation signal 121 from the sensor160 indicates actuation of the actuator, the processor 118 provides asignal to the link transmitter 168 that causes dispensing of markingmaterial for some predetermined or user-defined amount of time,irrespective of release of the actuator. Additionally or alternatively,the processor may provide one or more signals to the link transmitter168 that causes dispensing of marking material for multiple discreteamounts of time with a single actuation (e.g., three bursts of 1 secondeach per actuation). From the foregoing, it should be generallyappreciated that a wide variety of marker sizes and patterns may begenerated from the marking device in an automated or semi-automatedmanner based on processor-based control of the actuation system 120. Itshould also be appreciated that automated or semi-automatedprocessor-based control of the dispensing of marking material may alsogovern in some fashion how, how often, and/or what type of markinginformation is collected and logged to generate an electronic record ofa marking operation, as discussed further below in connection with FIG.9.

III. EXEMPLARY MARKING TECHNIQUES

FIGS. 6 and 7 provide examples of how the marking device 110 shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 may be employed by a technician during a markingoperation. Referring now to FIG. 6, a perspective view of marking device110 when in use for marking a “dotting pattern” is presented. In markingoperations, a dotting pattern may be utilized to preliminarily andquickly indicate the presence or absence of a target facility during aninitial locate of a target facility. By way of example, FIG. 6 shows anunderground facility 310, which may be any facility, such as anunderground gas line, water pipe, sewer pipe, power line, telephoneline, cable television conduit, and the like. FIG. 6 also shows adotting pattern 312 that is formed by multiple locate marks 314dispensed via marking device 110. The locate marks 314 of dottingpattern 312 are formed by successive short bursts of marking material(e.g., brief actuations); i.e., each locate mark 314 corresponds to onebrief actuation of the marking device 110.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a perspective view of marking device 110 whenin use for marking a “lines pattern” is presented. In markingoperations, a lines pattern is typically the end product of a markingoperation. This pattern extends the dotting pattern (e.g., dottingpattern 312 of FIG. 6) so as to create lines (e.g., a series of dashes)that indicate the presence or absence of an underground facility. Theselines subsequently provide important reference marks to an excavator soas to avoid damage to a facility during excavation activities or otherdisturbances of the ground. By way of example, FIG. 7 shows undergroundfacility 310, which may be any concealed facility, such as anunderground gas line, water pipe, sewer pipe, power line, telephoneline, cable television conduit, and the like. FIG. 7 also shows a linespattern 412 that is formed by multiple locate marks 414 dispensed viamarking device 110. A characteristic of locate marks 414 of linespattern 412 is that each locate mark 414 is formed by an extended burstof marking material (e.g., a longer actuation of the marking device) ascompared with a dotting pattern. As with the dotting pattern shown inFIG. 6, however, each locate mark 414 of the lines pattern shown in FIG.7 may correspond to one actuation of marking device 110. In somealternative implementations, as discussed above, a series of locatemarks (e.g., all three marks 414) may be automatically generated by oneactuation of marking device 110 pursuant to processor-based control ofthe actuation system.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view that shows further details of the linespattern 412 of FIG. 7. In the example of FIG. 8, each locate mark 414-1,414-2, and 414-3 corresponds to one actuation (“act”) of marking device110, i.e., locate mark 414-1 corresponds to act-1, locate mark 414-2corresponds to act-2, and locate mark 414-3 corresponds to act-3.Furthermore, each actuation and its corresponding locate mark 412 has astart time t1, an end time t2, and a duration (Δt). While FIG. 8 showsthree locate marks, it should be appreciated that lines pattern 412 maybe formed by any number of locate marks.

IV. FORMAT, CONTENT AND PROCESS OF GENERATING ELECTRONIC RECORDS OFMARKING INFORMATION

In one embodiment of the present invention for generating an electronicrecord of a marking operation, the processor 118 of the marking device110, executing the marking data algorithm 134, may collect variousmarking information and generate an electronic record having one or more“actuation data sets” respectively associated with one or moreactuations (act-1, act-2, act-3 . . . act-n) and corresponding locatemarks, as shown in FIG. 8. Marking information may be collected andentered into such an electronic record at various times relative to thestart time t1 and the end time t2 of a given actuation, e.g., at t1only, at t2 only, at both t1 and t2, at any time(s) between t1 and t2,and/or before or after t1 and t2.

Examples of marking information that generally (but not necessarily) isacquired with respect to t1 and t2 of each actuation, and points betweent1 and t2 (“actuation data”), may include, but are not limited to:

-   -   (1) timing information: time and date for one or both of t1 and        t2 (hereinafter also referred to as “time stamp data”), and/or        duration (Δt) of the actuation, which may be provided in some        instances by timing system 128; and    -   (2) geographic information: latitude and longitude data from        location tracking system 130 (hereinafter also referred to as        “geo-location data”) (e.g., GPS data may be expressed in        degrees, minutes, and seconds (i.e., DDD°, MM′, and SS.S″),        degrees and decimal minutes (DDD° and MM.MMM′), or decimal        degrees (DDD.DDDDD°)).

Examples of marking information that may be acquired before, during orafter a given actuation or succession of actuations, and also enteredinto an electronic record, include, but are not limited to:

-   -   (3) marking material information, such as the presence, color,        brand and/or type of dispensed marking material or a simulated        dispensing of such marking material (i.e., hereinafter also        referred to as “product data”);    -   (4) service-related information: identification (ID) number of        the locate service provider (e.g., a party/company who        dispatches the locate technician, hereinafter also referred to        as “service provider ID”); ID number of the user and/or        technician (hereinafter also referred to as “user ID”); ID        number of the marking device being used for the marking        operation (hereinafter also referred to as “device ID”); and    -   (5) ticket information, such as the requesting party (e.g.,        excavator information), type of facility requested to be marked        by the requesting party, and address of the work site/dig area        for the marking operation (hereinafter also referred to as        “locate request data”). Ticket information also may include a        variety of text-based information which may be included in an        original locate request ticket, and/or text-based or other        information entered in by a technician (e.g., via the user        interface 126 and/or display 146) upon initiation of and/or        during a marking operation, such as ground type information        (e.g., a description of the ground at which marking material is        dispensed). Thus, ticket information may be received or derived        from a locate request ticket and/or provided by another source,        such as entry by a user/technician.

In exemplary methods for generating an electronic record of markingoperations according to some embodiments of the invention, as discussedin greater detail below, for a given actuation the processor 118 mayrequest the location tracking system 130 to provide geographicinformation at one or more times during the actuation (e.g.,periodically at regular intervals). Thus, an actuation data set of anelectronic record for a given actuation of the marking device may havemultiple pieces of geographic information (and associated time stamps)representing the location of the marking device at multiple times duringa corresponding actuation. Additionally, for a given actuation, theprocessor 118 also may request the marking material detection mechanism132 to provide marking material information as part of the actuationdata set. The processor also may include ticket information andservice-related information, which may be collected (e.g., via one ormore of the user interface 126 and the communication interface 124)before a corresponding actuation, stored in memory 122 and retrievedfrom the memory for entry into the electronic record upon or during thecorresponding actuation, or collected and entered into the electronicrecord upon or during the corresponding actuation.

While the collection and logging of marking information to generate anelectronic record is discussed in some aspects, for purposes ofillustration, in terms of actuation data sets (i.e., a set of data thatis associated and logged with a corresponding actuation of the markingdevice), it should be appreciated that various embodiments of thepresent invention are not limited in this respect. More generally, anelectronic record of a marking operation may be generated in any of avariety of manners, have a variety of file formats and/or datastructures, and include any of a variety of marking information (some ofwhich may be germane to one or more actuations of the marking device andsome of which may be common to multiple actuations or the overallmarking operation in general).

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process 600 for collectingmarking information during operation of a marking device 110 andgenerating an electronic record, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. It should be appreciated that as various markinginformation is collected and logged in the process 600, such markinginformation also may be transmitted from the marking device (e.g., toremote computer 150) to facilitate essentially real-time monitoring ofthe marking operation, and/or remote generation of an electronic recordof the marking operation.

In block 602 of the process 600 shown in FIG. 9, ticket informationand/or service-related information may be received (e.g., via one ormore of the user interface 126 and the communication interface 124 ofmarking device 110) and this information optionally may be stored inwhole or in part in local memory 122 of the marking device. The ticketinformation and/or service-related information may be receivedelectronically in any of a variety of formats, and the processor may beconfigured to appropriately parse the information for subsequent entryinto an electronic record.

For example, in some embodiments, the ticket information may be receivedas part of an electronic locate request ticket, and individualrespective pieces of ticket information (e.g., ticket number, work siteaddress information, requesting party, etc.) may be extracted or derivedfrom the electronic locate request ticket. In other embodiments, variousaspects of ticket information may be input by a user/technician via theuser interface.

For example, in block 602 the process 600 may provide for the entry ofany of a variety of text information for inclusion in an electronicrecord and/or selection by a user/technician (e.g., via the userinterface) of various information to be included in an electronic recordas part of ticket information (and/or service-related information). Oneexample of such information may relate to a ground type in and aroundthe work site/dig area at which marking material is dispensed as part ofthe marking operation. In some implementations, a text description ofthe ground type may be entered and stored as part of the electronicrecord. In another exemplary implementation, the processor 118 controlsthe user interface 126 (including display 146) so as to displayinformation to the technician to facilitate such a selection. Inparticular, a ground type selection submenu may be displayed, includingone or more categories of ground types displayed in any of a variety ofmanners (e.g., as a list of text entries, an arrangement of iconssymbolizing respective categories, labeled symbols, etc.). Examples ofground type categories that may be displayed in such a submenu include,but are not limited to: 1) “Pavement;” 2) “Grass;” 3) “Rough/Rocky;” 4)“Dirt;” 5) “Gravel/Sand;” and 6) “Other.” More generally, any number andvariety of ground type categories may be presented to the technician viathe user interface in alphabetically ordered lists, numerically orderedlists, or other types of ordered text-based or symbolic arrangements,for example. In yet another exemplary implementation, the user interfacemay include a microphone and the processor may be configured to acceptand process audible commands, such that a ground type category may beaccomplished via voice-activated commands by simply speaking into themicrophone.

Similarly, with respect to service-related information, auser/technician may manually enter some aspects of this information viathe user interface/display, while other aspects may already be availablein other memory locations (e.g., the marking device ID or serial number,a technician ID to which the marking device is assigned or checked-out,etc.) and/or may be received electronically.

While block 602 is illustrated as one element of the process 600, itshould be appreciated that respective pieces of information received asinput in block 602 may be received at different times and via differentinterfaces/sources, and thus may occur at different points in theprocess 600. It should also be appreciated that block 602 is an optionalstep in the process 600, and that more generally a process forcollecting marking information to generate an electronic record need notnecessarily include collection of one or both of ticket information andservice-related information.

In block 604, the locate technician utilizes the user interface 126 toindicate the initiation of a marking operation. For example, thetechnician may press a button, operate a joy-stick, or touch a touchscreen display portion of a graphical user interface to commence amarking operation. In response, a “job initiation signal” is provided tothe processor 118 (e.g., via a switch closure and a ground or DC levelapplied to an I/O pin of the processor, or by the user interfaceproviding a signal to the processor) to initiate generation of anelectronic record. Alternatively, a remote job initiation signal may bereceived by the processor via the communication interface from anotherdevice, such as the remote computer 150.

In response to the job initiation signal, in block 606 the processoropens a file in the memory 122 in which to store the electronic record135, and assigns a file identifier to the opened file. In one example,the file identifier assigned to the opened file may be or include one ormore of a job number (“job ID”) or ticket number derived from the ticketinformation and/or the service-related information, an identifier forthe marking device itself, and an identifier for a remote computerassociated with the marking device (e.g., for either remote controloperation of the device and/or data uploading/downloading). To this end,if ticket information and/or service-related information is notpreviously available (e.g., if no information is received in block 602),the technician optionally may be prompted to manually enter (e.g., via a“wizard” or sequence of dialogues germane to obtaining relevantinformation displayed on the display of the user interface) variouselements of ticket information and/or service-related information fromwhich a file identifier may be derived, or provide other informationthat may be used as a file identifier.

A file opened in block 606 for purposes of storing an electronic recordmay have any of a variety of formats and include any of a variety ofdata structures. In one embodiment, the processor initially opens up a“flat file” for collection and logging of marking information tofacilitate generation of an electronic record. As known in the art, aflat file is a plain text or mixed text/binary file containing one entry(data record) per line, in which each entry may have multiple fieldscontaining respective values, and wherein the respective values may beseparated by delimiters (e.g., commas) or have a fixed length. In oneexemplary implementation, the processor 118 logs data into a flat fileopened for the electronic record as a succession of time stamped “evententries.” Some event entries may be related specifically to actuationand/or logged in response to actuation of the marking device (e.g., theprocessor 118 receiving an actuation signal 121). Other event entriesmay be more generally related in some manner to overall operation of themarking device or the marking operation itself, but not necessarilyassociated with one or more particular actuations (e.g.,start/pause/stop marking operation, power/battery status, communicationlink/network connection status, etc.), and these other event entries maybe logged at virtually any time (in some cases irrespective of one ormore actuations).

Accordingly, it should be appreciated that in one aspect of thisembodiment a flat file for an electronic record may contain a successionof time stamped event entries on respective lines, in which one or moreevent entries may have multiple delimited fields/values and at leastsome of the event entries relate to actuation of the marking device. Inanother aspect, one or more fields/values in a given event entry mayspecifically indicate in some manner whether or not the event isassociated with an actuation of the marking device. In general, an“actuation event entry” constitutes an entry in a file for an electronicrecord that is in some manner specifically related to, and/or logged inresponse to or during, actuation of the marking device, and multipleactuation event entries for a given actuation constitute an actuationdata set for that actuation. Again, it should be appreciated that a filefor an electronic record may include one or more other event entriesthat may not be particularly associated with an actuation.

In other embodiments, the file for an electronic record may or may notbe a flat file, and event entries associated with actuations (actuationevent entries) may be somehow identified and differentiated from otherevent entries that are not associated with an actuation. For example, afile for an electronic record may include a particular data structure orformat that segregates or separates in some manner event entriesassociated with successive actuations from those event entries that arenot particularly associated with actuations (and/or may be common tomultiple actuations or a group of actuations). In yet other embodiments,as discussed below, marking information may be initially collected andlogged in a first file for an electronic record in a first format (e.g.,a flat file including a succession of time-stamped event entries as “rawdata” for the marking operation) that may be stored and/or transmittedfor any of a variety of purposes, and then reformatted and/orreorganized in some manner in one or more subsequent files (e.g., a filehaving a particular data structure that segregates/separatesactuation-related information from other information in differentfields/elements of a data structure) for archiving and/or transmissionto one or more other devices/processors.

Once a file for an electronic record is opened in block 606, in block608 the processor can begin collecting and logging various markinginformation, i.e., logging in the electronic record (and/or transmittingvia the communication interface) actuation event entries and/or otherevent entries. In one exemplary implementation, the processor may beprogrammed so as to poll one or more input devices and/or othercomponents of the marking device to receive information, either once ormultiple times/periodically following the job initiation signal, and logresponses to these polls (“polling events”) as event entries withassociated time stamps. Examples of entries corresponding to pollingevents that may be logged into the file for the electronic record(and/or transmitted) include, but are not limited to, one or more “powerstatus event entries” including power information associated with thepower source 114, one or more “ticket information event entries”including ticket information (e.g., as received from the user interfaceor the communication interface, retrieved from local memory, etc.), oneor more “service-related information event entries” including theservice-related information (e.g., as received from the user interfaceor the communication interface, retrieved from local memory, etc.), andone or more “communication interface event entries” including statusinformation regarding operation of the communication interface (e.g.,network communication available/unavailable).

Additionally or alternatively, the processor may be programmed so as torespond to one or more signals designated as “interrupt events” from oneor more components of the marking device. Such interrupt events causelogging of information in the electronic record (and/or transmission ofinformation) upon/following the processor detecting the correspondingsignal(s). For example, the “job initiation signal” itself mayconstitute an interrupt event, in response to which the processor 118not only opens a file for the electronic record but, once the file isopened, the processor may request timing information from the timingsystem 128 and log into the electronic record a “start job event entry”including a job initiation time stamp associated with receipt of the jobinitiation signal.

In a similar manner, following commencement of a marking operation, thelocate technician may utilize the user interface 126 (e.g., press abutton, operate a joy-stick, or touch a touch screen display portion ofa graphical user interface) to pause, restart, and/or indicatecompletion of the marking operation, and these actions may constituteinterrupt events. For example, as indicated in block 610 of FIG. 9, a“pause signal” may be provided by the user interface to the processor,in response to which the processor may request timing information fromthe timing system and log a “pause job event entry” including a pausejob time stamp associated with the at least one pause signal. When thetechnician is ready to continue, as shown in block 612 of FIG. 9 thetechnician may indicate this via the user interface and a “restart jobevent entry” similarly may be logged. When the marking operation isdeemed by the technician to be completed, as noted in block 614 of FIG.9 the technician may utilize the user interface so as to provide a “stopsignal” to the processor, in response to which the processor may requesttiming information from the timing system and log a “stop job evententry” including a stop job time stamp associated with the stop signal.

Additionally, the locate technician may utilize the user interface 126to denote the beginning and end of a marking operation for a particularfacility type, and these actions may constitute interrupt events. Forexample, upon beginning a marking operation for a given facility type,the technician may select “line start” from the user interface, and acorresponding “line start signal” may be provided by the user interfaceto the processor, in response to which the processor may request timinginformation from the timing system and log a “line start event entry.”Similarly, when the technician wishes to indicate completion of themarking operation for a given facility type, the technician may select“line stop” from the user interface, and a corresponding “line stopsignal” may be provided by the user interface to the processor, inresponse to which the processor may request timing information from thetiming system and log a “line stop even entry.”

While various events are noted above as examples of “polling events” asopposed to “interrupt events,” it should be appreciated that theinvention is not limited in these respects, and that the marking dataalgorithm 134 executed by the processor 118 may be configured in any ofa variety manners to designate various functions performed by and/orinformation provided by various components of the marking device aspolling events or interrupt events. For example, the power source 114may be configured to provide a “low battery signal” to the processor,which when present is treated by the processor as an interrupt eventthat may be logged by the processor and/or that may cause the processorto take some particular action (e.g., provide an audible/visible alert;disable logging of further data, etc.). In one aspect, absent the “lowbattery signal,” the processor may request status information from thepower source once or occasionally as a polling event. Similarly, thecommunication interface 124 may be configured to provide a “no networkconnection available signal” to the processor, which when present istreated by the processor as an interrupt event (that is logged and/orcauses the processor to take some action), and when not present, theprocessor may poll the communication interface to request statusinformation as a polling event.

Another example of an interrupt event is given by the actuation signal121 provided by the actuation system 120 upon actuation of the actuator142 (i.e., a signal change-of-state indicating a transition from anon-actuated state to an actuated state), in response to which theprocessor logs one or more actuation event entries in the electronicrecord. More specifically, in one implementation, the receipt of anon-actuated to actuated transition state of the actuation signal 121 bythe processor may cause an initial actuation event entry to be logged asa “start actuation event entry” having an associated time stamp (i.e., astart time for the corresponding actuation) and also cause the processorto subsequently poll one or more input devices for information duringthe corresponding actuation and until release of the actuator (i.e.,subsequent change of state of the actuation signal 121). In this manner,an actuation data set for a given actuation may include multipleactuation event entries.

For example, during actuation of the actuator, the processor may pollthe location tracking system 130 so as to receive geographicinformation, and in turn log one or more “geo-location data evententries” in the actuation data set for the corresponding actuation. Asdiscussed above in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, in one exemplaryimplementation the location tracking system is configured to providegeographic information at an information update rate of approximately 5Hz, and the processor may log respective updates of geographicinformation provided by the location tracking system at this update rateduring an actuation as multiple geo-location data event entries of theactuation data set. It should be appreciated, however, that methods andapparatus according to various embodiments of the present invention arenot limited in this respect, and that other geographic informationupdate rates may be employed in various implementations (e.g., updaterates of up to approximately 100 Hz), based in part on the particularlocation tracking system employed. Furthermore, it should be appreciatedthat in some implementations the geographic information provided by thelocation tracking system 130 may include one or more longitudecoordinates, latitude coordinates, and a corresponding geo-location datatime stamp at which a given set of longitude/latitude coordinates areobtained by the location tracking system; accordingly, a givengeo-location data event entry in an actuation data set may include alongitude coordinate, a latitude coordinate, and the correspondinggeo-location data time stamp.

Similarly, in some implementations, pursuant to an interrupt provided bythe actuation signal 121, the processor may subsequently poll one ormore of the timing system 128 and the marking material detectionmechanism 132 so as to receive timing information and/or markingmaterial information during a corresponding actuation, and in turn logone or more of a “timing event entry,” and a “marking material detectionevent entry” as part of the actuation data set. Any of a variety ofmarking material information as discussed above may be collected andlogged during actuation in response to processor polling of the markingmaterial detection mechanism (e.g., causing an RFID tag reader to readvarious information from an RFID tag affixed to the marking dispenser).

Additionally, in some implementations, pursuant to an interrupt providedby the actuation signal 121, the processor may subsequently poll one ormore of the user interface 126, the communication interface 124, and thelocal memory 122 to retrieve ticket information and/or service-relatedinformation for logging into an actuation data set. As discussed above,in some implementations the receipt/retrieval of ticket informationand/or service-related information may be treated as a polling event notnecessarily associated with actuations, and this information need not beincluded in one or more actuation data sets. However, in otherimplementations it may be desirable to include at least some aspect ofticket information and/or service related information in each actuationdata set, notwithstanding the possible redundancy of data content inrespective actuation data sets (e.g., see Table 6, discussed furtherbelow in connection with FIG. 10).

Another example of an interrupt event is given by a change-of-state ofthe actuation signal 121 indicating a transition from the actuated stateto the non-actuated state, i.e., release of the actuator 142. Inresponse to this event, the processor may request information from thetiming system 128 and log an “end actuation event entry” including anend time stamp.

Yet another type of interrupt event causing the processor to log one ormore event entries may be provided by the marking material detectionmechanism 132 in the form of a signal that indicates whether or not amarking dispenser is contained in or appropriately coupled to themarking device. To this end, as discussed above in connection with FIGS.2 and 3, the marking material detection mechanism may include a toggleswitch that provides a two-state signal to the processor (e.g.,dispenser in/dispenser out) as an interrupt. Upon receiving an interruptindicating a transition from “dispenser out” to “dispenser in,” theprocessor may collect and log this event as a “dispenser in event entry”with a corresponding time stamp, and then request other marking materialinformation relating to the marking material in the dispenser from themarking material detection mechanism. In view of the foregoing, itshould be appreciated that in some embodiments, marking materialinformation may not necessarily be collected during one or moreactuations of the marking device, but alternatively may be collectedonly upon a “dispenser in” event being detected. Upon detection of aninterrupt event indicating a transition from “dispenser in” to“dispenser out,” the processor similarly may collect and log this eventas a “dispenser out event entry.”

In yet another embodiment, the processor 118, executing marking dataalgorithm 134, may be configured to repeatedly/regularly poll allavailable input devices and other components of the marking device(e.g., in a predetermined order, in response to receipt of the jobinitiation signal) and generate an essentially continuous stream of datapackets including marking information received pursuant to these pollingevents. In one aspect of this embodiment, each data packet of markinginformation may include a header, one or more flag fields, and one ormore information payload fields. For example, in one implementation, theheader for each packet may include one or more of a job ID (e.g., ticketidentifier), technician ID, device ID (e.g., serial number), packet typeID, and/or a time stamp corresponding to logging ofinformation/generation of the packet. Each packet also may include oneor more payload fields for carrying information provided by the polleddevice(s) or components, and one or more flag fields that are set (orreset) upon occurrence of one or more predetermined interrupt events(e.g., pull/depress actuator, release actuator, marking dispenser in,marking dispenser out, low power, communication link fail, etc.). Inthis manner, a continuous stream of data may be provided as an output bythe processor, in which certain interrupt events, such as an actuationand/or release of the actuator, “tag” certain data packets via aninterrupt flag. In yet other aspects of this embodiment, all datapackets thusly generated may be stored in the file opened for theelectronic record and/or transmitted from the marking device inessentially real time; alternatively, only certain data packets with oneor more predetermined flags set may be stored and/or transmitted.

Table 1 below illustrates an example of a portion of the contents of arelatively simple flat file for an electronic record that may begenerated by the process 600 of FIG. 9:

TABLE 1 MARKER TIME LAT LONG EVENT COLOR 1:23:00.00 PM −80.3851 25.5604Spraying ORANGE 1:23:00.20 PM −80.3851 25.5604 Spraying ORANGE1:23:00.40 PM −80.3851 25.5604 Spraying ORANGE 1:23:00.60 PM −80.385125.5604 Spraying ORANGE 1:23.00.80 PM −80.3851 25.5604 Spraying ORANGE1:23:01.00 PM −80.3851 25.5604 Spraying ORANGE 1:23:01.20 PM −80.385125.5604 Spraying ORANGE 1:23:01.40 PM −80.3851 25.56039 Spraying ORANGE1:23:01.60 PM −80.3851 25.56039 Spraying ORANGE 1:23:01.80 PM −80.385125.5604 Spraying ORANGE 1:23:02.00 PM −80.3851 25.5604 Spraying ORANGEThe portion of the file shown in Table 1 corresponds to multipleactuation event entries (one entry per line) collected and logged duringan actuation of the marking device. Each entry has a time stamp (e.g.,entries are logged at a rate of approximately five events per second)and further includes multiple fields having respective values (e.g., ascomma separated values) for latitude and longitude coordinates receivedfrom the location tracking device, an event indicator indicating thatthe device is “Spraying” (the actuator is actuated), and a color of themarking material being dispensed.

As noted above, it should be appreciated that the portion of the fileshown in Table 1 is provided primarily for purposes of illustration, andthat the format and/or content for respective event entries and the fileitself for an electronic record generated by and/or based on theinformation collection process discussed above in connection with FIG. 9may have any of a variety of different formats and/or content.

To this point, Tables 2 through 5 below provide examples of variousevents for which event entries may be logged in a file for an electronicrecord and/or transmitted by the marking device, exemplary formats forthese event entries, and exemplary file formats for files havingmultiple such entries, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

Job Started/Paused/Restarted/Completed Events: This event entry formatprovides information about when a marking operation (“job”) was startedand completed in addition to capturing details about if and when the jobwas paused and restarted.

TABLE 2 Format INFO+JOBS: (DATE) (TIME) (WAND_ID) (JOB_ID) (STATE)<CR><LF> Examples INFO+JOBS: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:03:44) WAND(2334)JOB(4000) (STARTED) <CR> <LF> INFO+JOBS: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:11:44)WAND(2334) JOB(4000) (PAUSED) <CR> <LF> INFO+JOBS: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(12:51:44) WAND(2334) JOB(4000) (RESTARTED) <CR> <LF> INFO+JOBS:DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(13:09:44) WAND(2334) JOB(4000) (END) <CR> <LF>

Actuation State Change Events: For purposes of this event format, theactuator is deemed to have three possible states, i.e., PRESSED, HELDand RELEASED. Marking information from one or more input devices/othercomponents of the marking device is recorded with these events toprovide information about the job in progress.

TABLE 3 Format INFO+ WPTR: (DATE) (TIME) (GPS data) (PAINT info)(TRIGGER SWITCH STATE) <CR><LF> Examples INFO+WPTR: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(12:04:44)GPS($GPGGA,120443,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) SWCH(PRESSED)<CR><LF> INFO+WPTR: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(12:04:45)GPS($GPGGA,120445,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) SWCH(HELD)<CR><LF> INFO+WPTR: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:46)GPS($GPGGA,120446,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) SWCH(RELEASED)<CR><LF>

Marking Device Status Events: The status event collects various markinginformation and/or information on operating characteristics of thedevice on a periodic basis while a job is in progress (e.g., pursuant toprocessor polls).

TABLE 4 Format INFO+STAT: (DATE) (TIME) (GPS data) (PAINT status)(MEMORY used in %) (BATTERY level) <CR><LF> Examples INFO+STAT:DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:00)GPS($GPGGA,120400,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) MEM(65) BAT(3)<CR><LF>

Error Events: Should any input device or other component of the markingdevice encounter a significant error condition, this may be logged as anevent. In some cases, the user/technician also may be notified of theerror through the user interface 126 (visible alert on display, audiblealarm/alert, etc.). Similar event formats may be adopted for warningalerts/events and informational alerts/events.

TABLE 5 Format INFO+ERR: (DATE) (TIME) (GPS data) (PAINT status) (MEMORYused in %) (BATTERY level) <CR><LF> Examples INFO+ERR: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(12:04:00)GPS($GPGGA,120400,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) MEM(65) BAT(3)<CR><LF>

With respect to file formats for electronic records including the evententries outlined above in Tables 2 through 5, two exemplary fileformats, namely ASCII and XML, are provided below for purposes ofillustration. In various implementations, a given marking device may beparticularly configured to store and/or transmit electronic records andrespective entries therein in either format (or other formats). Withrespect to identification of files/electronic records, a standard namingscheme/format may be adopted, for example, including an identifier forthe remote computer with which the marking device may be communicating(“ServerID”), an identifier for the marking device itself (“WandID”),and an identifier for the marking operation/job (“JobID”), and havingthe format “ServerID_WandID_Job ID.”

ASCII Data Format: This format allows low-level remote processingengines to quickly and easily receive, parse, and react to markinginformation logged and/or transmitted by the marking device. An exampleof an electronic record formatted in ASCII based on the event entriesoutlined in Tables 2 through 5 is as follows:

INFO+JOBS: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:03:44) WAND(2334) JOB(4000)(STARTED) <CR> <LF> INFO+STAT: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:00)GPS($GPGGA,120400,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) MEM(65) BAT(3)<CR><LF> INFO+WPTR: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(12:04:44)GPS($GPGGA,120443,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) SWCH(PRESSED)<CR><LF> INFO+WPTR: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(12:04:45)GPS($GPGGA,120445,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) SWCH(HELD)<CR><LF> INFO+WPTR: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:46)GPS($GPGGA,120446,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) SWCH(RELEASED)<CR><LF> INFO+STAT: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(12:05:00)GPS($GPGGA,120500,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) BAT(3)<CR><LF> INFO+JOBS: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:10:03)WAND(2334) JOB(4000) (PAUSED)<CR> <LF> INFO+JOBS: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(13:01:43) WAND(2334) JOB(4000) (RESTARTED)<CR> <LF> INFO+WPTR:DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(13:01:50)GPS($GPGGA,130150,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) SWCH(PRESSED)<CR><LF> INFO+WPTR: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(13:01:51)GPS($GPGGA,130151,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 )CLR(RED) SWCH(RELEASED)<CR><LF> INFO+JOBS: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(13:20:30) WAND(2334) JOB(4000) (END)<CR> <LF>

XML Data Format: This format allows transmission of self-describing dataelements from the marking device, in some instances reducing processingerrors and reducing the risks and effort involved in upgrades and datachanges. An example of an electronic record formatted in XML based onthe event entries outlined in Tables 2 through 5 is as follows:

<WAND ID=2334> <JOB ID=4000> <ACTIVITY> <DATE>2009-04-15</DATE><TIME>12:03:44</TIME> <STATUS>Started</STATUS>  </ACTIVITY> <ACTIVITY> <DATE>2009-04-15</DATE>  <TIME>12:04:00</TIME>  <GPS>($GPGGA,120400,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47</GPS> <PAINT> <COLOR>Red</COLOR> <VALID>True</VALID> <SN>2342343243355</SN> </PAINT>  <SWITCH>Pressed</SWITCH>  </ACTIVITY> </JOB> </WAND>

Yet another alternative format for storing and organizing markinginformation in an electronic record of a marking operation, according toone embodiment of the invention, is shown in Table 6 below. By way ofexample, Table 6 shows the format and content of three actuation datasets of an electronic record of a marking operation for a givenfacility, in which each actuation data set includes informationassociated with multiple actuation event entries logged during acorresponding actuation and resulting locate mark (e.g., act-1, act-2,and act-3), as shown for example in FIG. 8. As discussed above, itshould be appreciated that the format and content shown below in Table 6may constitute an “original” electronic record generated by theprocessor pursuant to the process 600 shown in FIG. 9, or may be derivedfrom raw data collected and logged pursuant to the process 600 (e.g., asa flat file, an ASCII formatted file, or an XML formatted file) andsubsequently reorganized and particularly formatted.

TABLE 6 Example actuation data set for act-1 act-1 Service provider ID0482 User ID 4815 Device ID 7362 T1 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008;09:35:15.2 T2 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:16.1 Duration (Δt)00:00:00.9 T1 geo-location data 2650.9348,N,08003.5057,W 1^(st) intervallocation data 2650.9353,N,08003.5055,W 2^(nd) interval location data2650.9356,N,08003.5055,W . . . . . . Nth interval location data2650.9246,N,08003.5240,W T2 geo-location data 2650.9255,N,08003.5236,WProduct data Color=Red, Brand=ABC, Type/Batch = 224B-1 Ground Type GrassOther info (text entry) “thick and wet at time of marking” Locaterequest data Requestor: XYZ Construction Company, Requested serviceaddress: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL Example actuation data set for act-2act-2 Service provider ID 0482 User ID 4815 Device ID 7362 T1 timestampdata 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:17.5 T2 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:18.7Duration (Δt) 00:00:01.2 T1 geo-location data 2650.9256,N,08003.5234,W1st interval location data 2650.9256,N,08003.5226,W 2^(nd) intervallocation data 2650.9256,N,08003.5217,W . . . . . . Nth interval locationdata 2650.9260,N,08003.5199,W T2 geo-location data2650.9266,N,08003.5196,W Product data Color=Red, Brand=ABC, Type/Batch =224B-1 Ground Type Grass Other info (text entry) “thick and wet at timeof marking” Locate request data Requestor: XYZ Construction Company,Requested service address: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL Example actuationdata set for act-3 act-3 Service provider ID 0482 User ID 4815 Device ID7362 T1 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:18.7 T2 timestamp data12-Jul-2008; 09:35:19.8 duration (Δt) 00:00:01.1 T1 geo-location data2650.9273,N,08003.5193,W 1st interval location data2650.9281,N,08003.5190,W 2^(nd) interval location data2650.9288,N,08003.5188,W . . . . . . Nth interval location data2650.9321,N,08003.5177,W T2 geo-location data 2650.9325,N,08003.5176,WProduct data Color=Red, Brand=ABC, Type/Batch = 224B-1 Ground Type GrassOther info (text entry) “thick and wet at time of marking” Locaterequest data Requestor: XYZ Construction Company, Requested serviceaddress: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL

In addition to the information shown in Table 6, a job ID or some otheridentifier for the electronic record as a whole (e.g., a ticket number),as well as a total number of actuations for a given marking operation(e.g., the total number of actuation data sets in a given electronicrecord in this embodiment), may be included in the electronic record.

With regard to color information that may be included in any of theevent entries and electronic records discussed herein, Table 7 belowshows an example of the correlation of marking material color to thetype of facility to be marked.

TABLE 7 Correlation of color to facility type Marking material colorFacility Type Red Electric power lines, cables or conduits, and lightingcables Yellow Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other hazardous liquid orgaseous materials Orange Communications, cable television, alarm orsignal lines, cables, or conduits Blue Water, irrigation, and slurrylines Green Sewers, storm sewer facilities, or other drain lines WhiteProposed excavation Pink Temporary survey markings Purple Reclaimedwater, irrigation, and slurry lines Black Mark-out for errant lines

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary data structure for an electronic record135, according to another embodiment of the present invention, that maybe generated by and/or based on information collected during the process600 discussed above in connection with FIG. 9 and based on theorganization of information shown in Table 6 above. As shown in FIG. 10,the record 135 includes a file identifier 701 (e.g., one or more of JobID, WandID, ServerID, etc.) and a plurality of actuation data sets 1through N (with reference numbers 702A, 702B, 702C . . . 702N), whereineach actuation data set is associated with a corresponding actuation ofa marking device. For purposes of the following discussion, FIG. 10shows additional details of the data structure for actuation data set 3702C, showing several fields in which data (e.g., actuation evententries) may be entered to constitute the actuation data set. While onlythe exemplary details of the data structure of actuation data set 3 areshown in the electronic record 135 of FIG. 10, it should be appreciatedthat multiple actuation data sets of the electronic record 135 may havethe same data structure as that shown for actuation data set 3 in FIG.10.

The data structure of the actuation data set 3 702C of the electronicrecord 135 shown in FIG. 10 includes a start location field 704(corresponding to T1 geo-location data shown in Table 2), an endlocation field 713 (corresponding to T2 geo-location data shown in Table2), a start time field 706 (corresponding to T1 timestamp data shown inTable 2), an end time field 708 (corresponding to T2 timestamp datashown in Table 2) and a duration field 709 (corresponding to theduration Δt shown in Table 2). Additionally, the data structure forentry 3 702C includes one or more fields 712A, 712B, . . . 712N forintermediate location data (corresponding to 1^(st) interval locationdata, 2^(nd) interval location data . . . Nth interval location datashown in Table 2). Finally, the data structure for the entry 3 702C mayinclude one or more ticket information fields 714 (e.g., correspondingto Locate request data in Table 2) and one or more service-relatedinformation fields 716 (e.g., corresponding to Service provider ID, UserID, and Device ID in Table 2).

In addition to one or more actuation data sets corresponding toactuations of a marking device, the electronic record 135 shown in FIG.10 may include one or more additional elements. For example, FIG. 10shows an additional element 718 of the electronic record to store thetotal number of entries in the record. Furthermore, according to anotherembodiment, various other information that may be common to multiple (orall) actuation data sets of a given electronic record may be stored inone or more additional elements of the electronic record that are notcontained within one or more of the actuation data sets themselves. Forexample, in one alternative implementation, one or more of the ticketinformation field 714, the service-related information field 716, andthe marking material properties field 710, which are shown as part ofthe data structure for a given actuation data set of the electronicrecord, may instead be elements of the electronic record that are notincluded within any one actuation data set (e.g., the informationcontained in one or more of the ticket information field and theservice-related information field may be common to all actuation datasets of a given electronic record).

V. LANDMARK IDENTIFICATION MODE

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the marking device110 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be configured (e.g., via particularinstructions included in the marking data algorithm 134 executing on theprocessor 118, and/or various hardware modifications) to operate inmultiple different modes so as to collect various information relatingnot only to a marking operation itself (marking information), butadditionally (or alternatively) various information relating to the worksite/dig area in which the marking operation is performed. For example,in one implementation, the marking device may be configured to operatein a first “marking mode” which essentially follows various aspects ofthe process outlined in FIG. 9, and also operate in a second “landmarkidentification mode” (or more simply “landmark mode”), in which themarking device acquires information relating to one or moreenvironmental landmarks that may be germane to the marking operation(e.g., in and around the work site/dig area and/or generally in thevicinity of the marking operation).

More specifically, in a “marking mode,” marking material may bedispensed with respective actuations of the marking device and variousinformation transmitted and/or stored in an electronic record attendantto this process, as discussed above. Alternatively, in a “landmarkmode,” marking material is not necessarily dispensed with an actuationof the marking device (and in some instances the dispensing of markingmaterial is specifically precluded); instead, a technician positions themarking device proximate to an environmental landmark of interest and,upon actuation, the marking device collects various information aboutthe landmark (hereafter referred to as “landmark information”), whichinformation may include, but is not limited to, geo-location data of anenvironmental landmark, type of environmental landmark, and a time stampfor any acquired information relating to an environmental landmark.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are similar to FIGS. 4A and 4B, and conceptuallyillustrate a portion of an actuation system 120 including a mechanicalcoupler 152, in which the marking device 110 has been modified toinclude a mode selector device so as to accommodate a landmark mode,according to one embodiment of the present invention. In a mannersimilar to that shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, FIG. 11A shows the actuator142 in an un-actuated state, whereas FIG. 11B shows the actuator 142 inan actuated state. In the embodiment of FIGS. 11A and 11B, themodifications are such that, in the landmark mode, the marking device isprecluded from dispensing markers or marking material, even though theactuator 142 may be actuated by a user.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, in this embodiment themarking device 110 further includes a mode selector device in the formof a bypass device 145 that is operated so as to impact and deflect themechanical coupler 152 of the actuation system 120, such that themechanical coupler 152 fails to cause the dispensing of a markingmaterial upon actuation of the actuator 142. In FIG. 11A, the bypassdevice is shown in a first state (e.g., released) which allows themarking device to operate in marking mode as described above (i.e., themechanical coupler is allowed to be displaced essentially verticallywith actuation of the actuator 142 and thereby dispense markers). InFIG. 11B, the bypass device is shown in a second state (e.g., depressed)which allows the marking device to operate in landmark mode; inparticular, the mechanical coupler 152 is deflected by the bypass devicesuch that upon actuation of the actuator 142, the mechanical coupler 152is not displaced vertically. In one example, with reference again toFIGS. 1B and 11B, when the mechanical coupler 152 is deflected by thebypass device 145, actuations of the actuator 142 do not effect fullessentially up/down vertical movement of the mechanical coupler 152; asa result, the mechanical coupler fails to displace the actuationmechanism, and no pressure is applied to the spray nozzle of a paintdispenser (or dispensing mechanism of other types of marker dispensers).At the same time, however, actuation of the actuator 142 nonethelessprovides an actuation signal 121 to the processor 118 (which may providefor logging of an actuation event entry as discussed above).

In various implementations, the bypass device 145 may be a lockingand/or spring-loaded switching device (e.g., a press/release lockingthumb switch) appropriately positioned along the housing of the markingdevice (e.g., near or on the handle), wherein the bypass device providesfor both deflection of the mechanical coupler as well as opening/closureof electrical contacts so as to provide a mode signal 147 to theprocessor 118. For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the first state(released) of the bypass device 145 may include an open contact stateand no deflection of the mechanical coupler, whereas the second stateshown in FIG. 11B (depressed) may include a closed contact state (e.g.,in which the mode signal 147 is provided to the processor 118 as aninterrupt event to indicate “landmark mode”) when the bypass devicedeflects the mechanical coupler 152.

In response to the mode signal 147 indicating landmark mode, theprocessor 118 may request timing information from the timing system andlog into an electronic record a “landmark mode event entry” including alandmark mode time stamp associated with the landmark mode signal.Additionally, or alternatively, the processor may respond to thelandmark mode signal by taking one or more other actions pursuant toexecution of a portion of the marking data algorithm 134 includingparticular instructions to implement the landmark mode, such asproviding for the selection of landmark categories and/or types (via theuser interface 126 and menus provided on the display 146), and loggingactuation event entries in an electronic record as “landmark evententries.” Further details of landmark mode operation of the markingdevice are discussed below in connection with FIG. 12.

In another exemplary implementation, rather than employing the bypassdevice 145 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B as a mode selector device, amarking device configured to implement a landmark mode in which nomarker or marking material is dispensed may be modified to include anactuator locking device as a mode selector device to prevent operationof the actuator 142. In essence, such a device would function in amanner similar to a “trigger lock.” Like the bypass device, the actuatorlocking device or “trigger lock” may not only mechanically impedeoperation of the actuator, but also include electrical switch contacts(opened/closed) so as to provide a mode signal to the processor toindicate a landmark mode when the actuator locking device is engaged toimpede actuation. Because such an actuator locking device impedesoperation of the actuator, the actuator itself cannot be employed toprovide an actuation signal 121 to the processor to facilitate thelogging into an electronic record of actuation event entries as“landmark event entries.” Accordingly, in implementations involving anactuator locking device, another aspect of the user interface (e.g., abutton, switch, portion of the touch screen display, microphone toprovide for voice-activation, etc.) is employed to provide a signal tothe processor 118 to facilitate logging of an event (e.g., a “landmarkevent”) by the technician. Further details of logging of landmark eventsare discussed below in connection with FIG. 12.

Yet another exemplary implementation of a marking device modified tooperate in landmark mode is based on the general implementation of anactuation system 120 shown in FIG. 5, in which the landmark mode isselected via the user interface 126 and/or display 146 (e.g.,menu-driven GUI) rather than via a bypass device or actuator lockingdevice; i.e., some functionality of the user interface itself providesfor a mode selector device. With reference again to FIG. 5, dispensingof marking material in this implementation is controlled by a linktransmitter 168. As discussed above in connection with FIG. 5, the linktransmitter 168 may be responsive to the actuation signal 121 providedby sensor 160 with operation of the actuator 142, for example, oralternatively responsive to a signal provided by the processor 118 (suchthat dispensing of marking material may in part be under the control ofthe processor 118 executing particular instructions for this purpose).Accordingly, in this implementation, when a landmark mode is selectedvia the user interface 126, the marking device may be configured toeither dispense marking material (by not impeding any control signals tothe link transmitter 168) (e.g., so as to form one or more “landmarklocate marks” on or near a target environmental landmark), or not todispense marking material (by impeding control signals to the linktransmitter 168 or otherwise controlling the link transmitter to notdispense marking material). In either case, the actuation signal 121output by sensor 160 may nonetheless be provided to the processor 118 soas to facilitate logging of an actuation event entry upon actuation ofthe actuator 142, which in landmark mode may be designated as a“landmark event entry,” as discussed further below in connection withFIG. 12.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process 1200, according to oneembodiment of the present invention, for operating a marking devicehaving a marking mode and a landmark mode so as to collect markinginformation and/or environmental landmark information during operationof the marking device, and generate an electronic record of suchinformation. Several aspects of the process 1200 shown in FIG. 12 aresubstantially similar or identical to those discussed above inconnection with FIG. 9; in particular, blocks 602 through 614 are thesame in both FIGS. 9 and 12, and the blocks 616, 618, and 620 in FIG. 12are additional aspects of the process 1200.

In the process 1200 outlined in FIG. 12, following commencement of amarking operation the locate technician may utilize the user interface126 (e.g., press a button, operate a joy-stick, touch a touch screendisplay portion of a graphical user interface, speak into a microphoneto provide a voice-activated command, etc.) to not only pause, restart,and/or indicate completion of the marking operation, but further toselect a landmark mode of operation for the marking device. As notedabove in the discussion of FIG. 9, any one or more of these actions mayconstitute interrupt events. For example, as indicated in block 616 ofFIG. 12, if a technician selects “landmark mode” via the user interface,the user interface may provide a “landmark mode signal” to theprocessor. In response to this signal, the processor may request timinginformation from the timing system and log a “landmark mode event entry”including a landmark mode time stamp associated with the landmark modesignal. Additionally, or alternatively, the processor may respond to thelandmark mode signal by taking one or more other actions pursuant toexecution of a portion of the marking data algorithm 134 includingparticular instructions to implement the landmark mode (as discussedabove, the landmark mode may be entered in alternative implementationsvia a mode signal provided to the processor 118 by a bypass device or anactuator locking device serving as a mode selector device).

Table 8 below provides an example of content and format for a modeselect event entry that may be logged in a file for an electronic recordand/or transmitted by the marking device. The example mode select evententry shown below in Table 8 follows a similar format to that used forthe event entry examples provided in Tables 2-5 above.

TABLE 8 Format INFO+MODE: (DATE) (TIME) (WAND_ID) (JOB_ID) (MODE)<CR><LF> Examples INFO+MODE: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:03:44) WAND(2334)JOB(4000) (LANDMARK) <CR> <LF>

In the process outlined in FIG. 12, subsequent to selection of thelandmark mode, as noted in block 618 the process may provide for theselection of a particular category and/or type of landmark for whichinformation is to be collected. To this end, in one implementation theprocessor 118 controls the user interface 126 (including display 146) soas to display information to the technician to facilitate such aselection. In particular, a landmark selection submenu may be displayed,including one or more categories of landmarks displayed in any of avariety of manners (e.g., as a list of text entries, an arrangement oficons symbolizing respective categories, labeled symbols, etc.).Examples of landmark categories that may be displayed in such a submenuinclude, but are not limited to: 1) “Natural Gas;” 2) “Water/Sewer;” 3)“Power Line;” 4) “Phone Line;” 5) “CATV Line;” and 6) “Other.”

Upon selection via the user interface of one of the landmark categoriesdisplayed on the submenu, the processor may control the user interfaceso as to display yet another submenu indicating various types oflandmarks that fall within the selected category, so as to facilitateselection of a particular type of landmark for which information is tobe collected. Examples of types of landmarks that may be displayed andavailable for selection via the user interface, for each of the aboveidentified categories, include, but are not limited to:

-   -   Natural Gas: 1) Service Meter; 2) Manifold; 3) Test Station; 4)        Regulator Station; 5) Vent/Vent stack; 6) Valve; 7) Trace        Wire; 8) Anode; 9) Branch Service; 10) Capped Service; 11)        Compressor Station; 12) Farm Tap; 13) Service Regulator; 14)        Service Line; 15) Service Riser; 16) Shut Off Valve; 17)        Tee; 18) Valve Box; 19) Transmission Pipeline; 20)        Main/Distribution Main; 21) Offset; 22) Low Pressure; 23) Medium        Pressure; 24) High Pressure    -   Water/Sewer: 1) Transmission Main; 2) Water Main; 3) Manhole; 4)        Valve; 5) Clean out; 6) Sewer Lateral; 7) Water Meter; 8) Storm        Sewer 9) Sanitary Sewer; 10) Pump Station; 11) Tap; 12)        Faucet; 13) Fire Hydrant; 14) Tracer Wire    -   Power Line: 1) Pole; 2) Anchor; 3) Transformer; 4) Manhole; 5)        Handhole; 6) Street light; 7) Electrical Riser; 8) Primary; 9)        Secondary; 10) Switch; 11) Fused Switch; 12) Circuit        Breaker; 13) Duct; 14) Power Plant; 15) Transmission        Substation; 16) Power Substation; 17) Service Line; 18)        Meter; 19) Pedestal; 20) Switch Gear; 21) Switch Cabinet; 22)        Buried Transformer; 23) Riser; 24) Red Top Tracer    -   Phone Line: 1) Pole; 2) Anchor; 3) Manhole; 4) Handhole; 5)        Subscriber Line Carrier; 6) Digital Loop Carrier; 7) Remote        Terminal; 8) Cross Box; 9) Continual environment Vault; 10)        Fiber Optics; 11) Encapsulated Plant; 12) Building Terminal; 13)        Terminal; 14) Aerial; 15) Buried; 16) Underground; 17) Duct        Run; 18) Central Office; 19) Buried Joint; 20) Splice    -   CATV Line: 1) Pole; 2) Anchor; 3) Headend; 4) Manhole; 5)        Handhole; 6) Transmitter; 7) Fiber Transmitter; 8) Receiver; 9)        Fiber Receiver; 10) HUB Location; 11) Power Supply/Inserter; 12)        Fiber Node; 13) Amplifier; 14) Ped; 15) Dog House; 16)        Subscriber Service Line; 17) Trunk Station; 18) Trunk Line        Amplifier; 19) AC Power Supply Pedestal    -   Other: various natural, architectural, or infrastructure-related        landmarks, such as buildings, curbs, “tagged” curbs        (intentionally marked curbs that are likely to survive        excavation, to serve as points of reference to validate marking        operations), streets, driveways, property boundaries, trees and        other landscape elements, termination points of abandoned        facilities, etc.

While the foregoing discussion of landmark categories and types providesone construct in which a wide variety of landmarks are made availablefor selection by the technician, it should be appreciated that in otherimplementations, options for landmark selection may be presented indifferent manners. For example, a more succinct list of landmark typesmay be presented to the technician to facilitate easy selection (e.g., amore limited set of about a dozen more common landmark types that mightbe encountered in the field, such as “telephone pole,” “fire hydrant,”“meter,” “manhole,” “curb,” etc.). More generally, any number andvariety of landmark types may be presented to the technician via theuser interface in alphabetically ordered lists, numerically orderedlists, or other types of ordered text-based or symbolic arrangements,for example.

In another exemplary implementation, the categories and/or types oflandmarks made available for selection via the user interface may bebased at least in part on a type of facility being marked when themarking device was in a marking mode prior to selection of the landmarkmode. For example, consider a technician using the marking device in themarking mode and in the process of marking a power line. In oneimplementation, upon switching to landmark mode, the user is firstpresented with selection options for landmark category and/or type thatare more closely related to a power line (e.g., a more limited subset ofoption types including “pole,” “transformer,” “pedestal,” etc.). In oneaspect, the technician may nonetheless still have the option to selectother categories and/or types of landmarks, but as a default thetechnician is first presented with options related to the type offacility last being marked. In another aspect, the selection options forlandmark category and/or type may be specifically and intentionallylimited to those options that are most germane to the type of facilitylast being marked in the previous marking mode (i.e., immediately priorto entry into the landmark mode).

In yet another exemplary implementation, the user interface may includea microphone and the processor may be configured to accept and processaudible commands, such that landmark category and/or type selection maybe accomplished via voice-activated commands. For example, once landmarkmode is selected, the technician may select a particular landmarkcategory or type by simply speaking into the microphone (e.g.,“telephone pole,” “fire hydrant,” “meter,” “manhole,” “curb,” etc.).

In addition to, or as an alternative to, selection of landmark categoryand/or type, block 618 may provide for the entry of any of a variety oftext information for inclusion as part of the landmark information in anelectronic record. For example, in some exemplary implementations, viathe user interface and/or display the technician may enter text-basedinformation relating to an environmental landmark (e.g., as an offset toanother topological, architectural, or infrastructure feature inproximity to the environmental landmark—“telephone pole 5 ft. from backof curb”). Additionally, in a manner similar to landmark type selection,the user interface/display may provide for menu-driven selection via aGUI of predetermined options for additional text-based information to beincluded as part of the landmark information (e.g., a set of “stock”text messages for selection to be included as part of landmarkinformation).

Following selection of landmark category and/or type, and/orentry/section of any text-based information in block 618 of the process1200 shown in FIG. 12, in block 620 actuations of the actuator 142 inlandmark mode cause the processor to collect various “landmarkinformation” with each actuation, which information is logged in anelectronic record as a “landmark event entry” (rather than an actuationevent entry, as noted in Table 3 above). Furthermore, as noted above,the processor 118 and/or the link transmitter 168 of the actuationsystem 120 may be particularly configured to either dispense or notdispense marking material upon actuations in landmark mode. Essentially,in landmark mode, the technician positions the marking device proximateto a selected category/type of landmark and actuates the actuator toacquire various information relating to the landmark (e.g., geo-locationdata, type, time stamp).

In general, the processor may be configured to communicate with (e.g.,poll) any of a variety of input devices to collect landmark informationto be logged in an electronic record. As discussed above in connectionwith the marking mode (refer again to FIG. 2), such information may beacquired from any of a variety of input devices including, but notlimited to, the location tracking system 130, the timing system 128, thecommunications interface 124 (e.g., a USB port or other port), the userinterface 126, and the local memory 122.

In particular, any data that is available from the location trackingsystem (e.g., any information available in various NMEA data messages,such as coordinated universal time, date, latitude, north/southindicator, longitude, east/west indicator, number and identification ofsatellites used in the position solution, number and identification ofGPS satellites in view and their elevation, azimuth and SNR values,dilution of precision values) may be collected as landmark informationand logged in an electronic record as part of a landmark event entry.Additionally, information collected from the user interface in the formof a text entry by the technician may be included in a landmark evententry; for example, in one implementation, upon actuation of theactuator, the processor may prompt the technician via the display of theuser interface to enter text notes, if desired (e.g., the technician maydescribe an offset of a target environmental landmark from anarchitectural, topographical, or infrastructure feature to complimentgeographic information provided by the location tracking system), andthis textual information may serve as landmark information. In view ofthe foregoing, it should be appreciated that “landmark information” mayinclude a wide variety of information components including, but notlimited to, one or more of geographical information (e.g., from thelocation tracking system), timing information (e.g., from the locationtracking system and/or the timing system), landmark category and/or typeinformation (e.g., selected or entered via the user interface), textualinformation (e.g., entered via the user interface), or other information(e.g., received from the local memory and/or the communicationsinterface).

Table 9 below provides an example of content and format for a landmarkevent entry that may be logged in a file for an electronic record and/ortransmitted by the marking device when in landmark mode. The examplelandmark event entry shown below in Table 9 also follows a similarformat to that used for the event entry examples provided in Tables 2-5above.

TABLE 9 Format INFO+LMRK: (DATE) (TIME) (GPS data) (CATEGORY,TYPE)(TEXT) <CR><LF> Examples INFO+LMRK: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:44)GPS($GPGGA, 120443, 4807.038, N, 01131.000, E, 1, 08, 0.9, 545.4, M,46.9, M,, *47) LMRK(3, 12)(“Panel mounted rear wall of shed”)<CR><LF>

In the example landmark event entry given in Table 9, the landmarkinformation includes a time stamp (e.g., DATE and TIME), geographicalinformation (e.g., GPS data), category/type information, and text-basedinformation for an environmental landmark. The notation LMRK (3,12) inthe example denotes a category 3, type 12 landmark which, in theexemplary listings provided above, corresponds to “Power Line,” “CircuitBreaker.” It should be appreciated that the event entry shown in Table 9is provided primarily for purposes of illustration, and that a varietyof other or additional landmark information may be included in landmarkevent entries, as noted above.

As with the event entry examples provided in Tables 2-5 above, theexemplary format for a mode select and landmark event entry as shown inTables 8 and 9 may be included in either an ASCII and XML file formatfor an electronic record that is stored and/or transmitted by themarking device (in which a particular naming scheme/format may beadopted to identify files/electronic records, such as“ServerID_WandID_Job ID”). It should also be appreciated that anelectronic record generated by a multi-mode marking device in someinstances may include a mixture of actuation event entries and landmarkevent entries, actuation event entries without any landmark evententries, and landmark event entries without any actuation event entries.

Yet another alternative format for storing and organizing landmarkinformation in an electronic record, according to one embodiment of theinvention, is shown in Tables 10 and 11 below. By way of example, Table10 shows the format and content of an electronic record entry for autility pole, which includes one geo-location data point, and Table 11shows the format and content of an electronic record entry for apedestal, which includes four geo-location data points (i.e., one foreach corner of the pedestal). It should be appreciated that the formatand content shown below in Tables 10 and 11 is provided primarily forpurposes of illustration and, as noted above, a variety of format andcontent may be included in an electronic record entry for landmarkinformation. The examples provided in Tables 10 and 11 may constitute an“original” electronic record generated by the processor pursuant to theprocess 1200 shown in FIG. 12, or may be derived from raw data collectedand logged pursuant to the process 1200 (e.g., as a flat file, an ASCIIformatted file, or an XML formatted file) and subsequently reorganizedand particularly formatted. It should also be appreciated that theexamples provided in Tables 10 and 11 illustrate that landmarkinformation may be included in an electronic record together with one orboth of ticket information and service-related information, as discussedabove in connection with electronic records including various markinginformation.

TABLE 10 Example record of data acquired for a utility pole while inlandmark identification mode of operation Record Service provider ID0482 # 1 User ID 4815 Device ID 7362 Type of EL Type = utility poletimestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:17.5 geo-location data 2650.9256, N,08003.5234, W Other info (text entry) “5 ft. from back of curb” Locaterequest data Requestor: XYZ Construction Company, Requested serviceaddress: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL

TABLE 11 Example record of data acquired for a pedestal while inlandmark identification mode of operation Record Service provider ID0482 # 2 User ID 4815 Device ID 7362 Type of EL Type = pedestaltimestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:17.5 geo-location data 2650.9256, N,08003.5234, W Type of EL Type = pedestal timestamp data 12-Jul-2008;09:35:21.2 geo-location data 2650.9256, N, 08003.5226, W Type of EL Type= pedestal timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:26.7 geo-location data2650.9288, N, 08003.5188, W Type of EL Type = pedestal timestamp data12-Jul-2008; 09:35:33.5 geo-location data 2650.9321, N, 08003.5177, WOther info (text entry) “7 ft from pavement edge” Locate request dataRequestor: XYZ Construction Company, Requested service address: 222 MainSt, Orlando, FL

FIG. 13 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 10 and illustrates anexemplary data structure for an electronic record 135 that includes bothmarking information and landmark information (i.e., that may begenerated by and/or based on information collected during the process1200 discussed above in connection with FIG. 12 and based on theorganization of information shown in Tables 9 and 10 above). Like theexemplary electronic record shown in FIG. 10, the record 135 in FIG. 13includes a file identifier 701 (e.g., one or more of Job ID, WandID,ServerID, etc.) and a plurality of actuation data sets 1 through N (withreference numbers 702A, 702B, 702C . . . 702N), wherein each actuationdata set is associated with a corresponding actuation of a markingdevice. In FIG. 13, also as in FIG. 10, additional details of the datastructure for actuation data set 3 702C are shown, relating to markinginformation collected in marking mode. However, unlike FIG. 10, FIG. 13shows that the actuation data set 2 702B relates to landmark informationacquired pursuant to an actuation in landmark mode; in particular, theactuation data set 2 702B includes a date/time field 1702, a type field1704, and a geo-location field 1706 corresponding to a landmark evententry.

In other respects, the data structure in FIG. 13 is similar to thatshown in FIG. 10. For example, various other information that may becommon to multiple (or all) actuation data sets of a given electronicrecord may be stored in one or more additional elements of theelectronic record that are not contained within one or more of theactuation data sets themselves (e.g., one or more of the ticketinformation field 714, the service-related information field 716, andthe marking material properties field 710, which are shown as part ofthe data structure for a given actuation data set of the electronicrecord, may instead be elements of the electronic record that are commonto all actuation data sets of a given electronic record).

Once an actuation of the marking device in landmark mode has been loggedas a landmark event entry, the process 1200 shown in FIG. 12 returns toblock 610. At this point, the technician is provided (via the userinterface/display) with the options of pausing the job (block 610),restarting the job if previously paused (block 612), stopping the joband indicating completion (block 614) or selecting landmark mode again(block 616) for the next actuation. If the technician selects none ofthese options, the process returns to block 608, at which point furtherpolling and/or interrupt events are logged (i.e., an actuation evententry capturing marking information is logged with the next actuation ofthe actuator), as discussed above in connection with FIG. 9.Accordingly, after an actuation in landmark mode, in one exemplaryimplementation the marking device defaults back to the marking mode,unless and until the technician selects the landmark mode again for asubsequent actuation.

In an alternative implementation not shown in FIG. 12, followingactuation of the marking device in landmark mode, the processor maycontrol the user interface/display to provide an option to thetechnician to exit landmark mode (rather than automatically presentingthe options of pause job, restart job, stop job, or landmark mode). Inthis manner, the marking device remains in landmark mode for subsequentactuations until the technician makes a menu selection to exit landmarkmode, at which point the process 1200 returns to block 610.

In yet another embodiment, the processor 118, executing marking dataalgorithm 134 in landmark mode, may be configured to generate anessentially continuous stream of data packets representing various evententries logged by the marking device (e.g., as shown above in Tables2-9). As discussed above in connection with the marking mode, each datapacket may include a header, one or more flag fields, and one or moreinformation payload fields. To accommodate both a marking mode and alandmark mode, one flag field may be set or reset upon selection of thelandmark mode so as to identify the contents of any information payloadfield in the data packet as landmark information as opposed to markinginformation. Similarly, as discussed above, one or more other flagfields may be set (or reset) upon occurrence of one or morepredetermined interrupt events (e.g., pull/depress actuator, releaseactuator, marking dispenser in, marking dispenser out, low power,communication link fail, etc.). In this manner, a continuous stream ofdata may be provided as an output by the processor, in which certaininterrupt events, such as an actuation and/or release of the actuator,“tag” certain data packets via an interrupt flag, and certain datapackets also may be tagged as generated in marking mode or landmarkmode. In yet other aspects of this embodiment, all data packets thuslygenerated may be stored in the file opened for the electronic recordand/or transmitted from the marking device in essentially real time;alternatively, only certain data packets with one or more predeterminedflags set may be stored and/or transmitted.

Thus, in landmark identification mode, a locate technician may employ anappropriately configured marking device to capture the types andlocations of environmental landmarks of interest that are present at thework site and/or in the general environs of a dig area. While inlandmark mode, the locate technician may approach a certainenvironmental landmark, then select the type of the environmentallandmark via user interface, position the marking device (e.g., placethe tip of marking device) proximate to the target environmentallandmark, and then actuate the marking device. In doing so, the markingdevice logs in an electronic record landmark information including, forexample, the type of the target environmental landmark, the geo-locationof the target environmental landmark, and a time stamp in an electronicrecord. The locate technician may move from one environmental landmarkto the next until information about all environmental landmarks ofinterest has been captured. Additionally, one or more data points (e.g.,“landmark event entries”) may be captured for any given environmentallandmark.

VI. COMPUTER-GENERATED VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF A MARKING OPERATIONINCLUDING MARKING INFORMATION AND LANDMARK INFORMATION

With reference again to FIGS. 2 and 3, in yet another embodiment theprocessor 118, executing marking data algorithm 134, and/or one or moreremote computers 150 executing marking data algorithm 134, mayadditionally process various marking information and/or landmarkinformation provided in real time from a marking device and/or stored inan electronic record of a marking operation and control a display device(e.g., display 146 of marking device 110 or some other display device)to render a computer-generated visual representation of one or both ofthe marking information and landmark information. Such a visualrepresentation may be used, for example, to provide immediate feedbackto the locate technician, provide essentially real-time feedback to asupervisor monitoring the technician from a remote location, provide avisual record of the marking information and/or the landmark information(e.g., for archiving purposes, once one or more electronic records aregenerated), and/or to verify the quality (e.g., accuracy andcompleteness) of work performed during a locate and marking operation.For purposes of the following discussion, a “marking operation” mayrefer to one or both of the processes of collecting marking informationand landmark information. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that invarious exemplary implementations of a computer-generated visualrepresentation, only marking information may be visually rendered, onlylandmark information may be visually rendered, or both markinginformation and landmark information may be visually rendered.

In various aspects of this embodiment, a visual representation may bestatic in that all available marking information and/or landmarkinformation is presented in a display field at one time after generationof an electronic record; alternatively, the visual representation may bedynamic in that marking information and/or landmark information isdisplayed in essentially real-time as it is collected, or may bedisplayed after generation of the electronic record in a time-sequencedanimation that “recreates” the collection of information on the timescale in which it was originally acquired (e.g., based on the timestamps indicating when the information was acquired).

In other aspects, the relative positions of all locate marks representedby actuation event entries logged and/or transmitted by the markingdevice, as well as the relative positions of all environmental landmarksrepresented by landmark event entries logged and/or transmitted by themarking device, may be displayed (e.g., based on geo-location data andsome appropriate scale of an available display field of display 146) toprovide a visual representation of the marking operation. A visualrepresentation of a marking operation may also be rendered in one ormore particular colors corresponding to one or more particularunderground facilities marked during the marking operation (e.g., seeTable 7).

In one exemplary implementation, such a visual representation mayinclude one “electronic locate mark” displayed in a display field foreach actuation/dispensing action of a marking device, such that there isessentially a one-to-one correspondence between electronic locate marksand physical locate marks for a given underground facility marked duringa marking operation. Alternatively, in another exemplary implementationof such a visual representation, an essentially continuous solid line(or other line type) may be displayed in a display field to represent agiven underground facility marked during a marking operation. In anotheraspect, the processor may process the geo-location data in respectivemarking actuation data sets of an electronic record so as to filter,average, interpolate and/or otherwise “smooth” data (e.g., so as toprovide “cleaner” visual renderings and/or connect successive locatemarks represented by the respective actuation data sets of theelectronic record); alternatively, “raw data” provided by the markingdevice may be utilized for the visual representation. In yet anotheraspect of this embodiment, visual representations of multiple markingoperations for different underground facilities within the same worksite/dig area may be generated in the same display field of a displaydevice so as to provide a composite visual representation, in whichdifferent underground facilities may be uniquely identified in somemanner (e.g., by different line types and/or different colors), and oneor more environmental landmarks in and/or around the work site/dig areamay be identified using a variety of displayed identifiers (e.g., icons,symbols, marks, shapes, etc.).

FIG. 14 illustrates a flow chart for a process 800 according to oneembodiment of the present invention for generating a visualrepresentation of a marking operation based on an electronic recordand/or essentially real-time information transmission from the markingdevice 110. As noted above, the process 800 may result from theexecution of various embodiments of the marking data algorithm 134 onthe processor 118 of the marking device 110 (to render the visualrepresentation on the display 146 of the marking device), or by one ormore other remote computers (to render the visual representation on oneor more other display devices).

In block 802 of the process 800, if an electronic record has alreadybeen generated for the marking operation in which one or moreunderground facilities are marked and/or environmental landmarkinformation is acquired, the record is examined to determine thegeographic extents of the locate marks and/or environmental landmarks tobe visually rendered on a display device. In particular, the processor118 may review the geo-location data of all actuation data sets of theelectronic record to determine (e.g., based on the respective latitudeand longitude coordinates of the available geo-location data) themaximum extents of the marking operation to be visually rendered.

The maximum extents of the marking operation may be determined in any ofa variety of manners according to different exemplary implementations.For example, in one exemplary implementation, in block 802 the processor118 may determine the centroid of all electronic locate marks and/orenvironmental landmarks represented by respective actuation data sets ofthe electronic record to be displayed. The processor then determines thegeographic extent of the collection of electronic locate marks and/orenvironmental landmarks by determining one or more latitude/longitudecoordinate pairs from the available data having a greatest distance fromthe centroid. In one example, the processor may determine a singlefarthest point from the centroid, and a distance between this farthestpoint and the centroid serves as a radius of a circle that provides an“extents area circle.” In another example, the “farthest opposingcorners” of a rectangle around the centroid may be determined byassigning the centroid as the origin of a reference coordinate system,and finding the coordinate pairs in opposing quadrants of the coordinatesystem having a greatest distance from the centroid (e.g., the+LAT/+LONG and −LAT/−LONG coordinate pairs at a greatest distance fromthe origin) to provide an “extents area rectangle.” Other types ofpolygons and closed shapes (ovals) may be employed to provide an extentsarea for the marking operation to be displayed.

Alternatively, if an electronic record has not been previously generatedand information received in essentially real-time from the markingdevice is to be displayed in a display field, a default extents area maybe selected in advance based on any of a variety of criteria. Forexample, address and/or site description information provided in aticket pursuant to which the marking operation is performed may providea basis on which an extents area for the marking operation may beestimated a priori. Similarly, as discussed further below in connectionwith FIG. 17, an available digital image of the work site/dig area maybe employed to determine or estimate an initial extents area for themarking operation.

In block 804, the extents area of the marking operation to be visuallyrendered is then mapped to an available display field of a displaydevice, using any appropriate scaling factor as necessary, to ensurethat all of the geo-location data in the electronic record fits withinthe display field. For example, in one exemplary implementation, atransformation may be derived using information relating to theavailable display field (e.g., a reference coordinate system using anappropriate scale for a given display field of a display device) to mapdata points within the extents area to the available display field. Inanother aspect of this example, a buffer area around the extents areamay be added to provide one or more suitable margins for the displayedvisual representation, and/or to accommodate different shapes of extentsareas to the available display field of the display device, and anappropriate transformation may be derived based on this optionaladditional buffer area.

Once a transformation is derived to map the marking operation extentsarea to the available display field of a display device, in block 806one or more electronic locate marks and/or one or more identifiers(e.g., icons, symbols, marks, shapes, etc.) for environmental landmarksis/are rendered in the display field based on applying thetransformation to the geo-location data present in the data set of oneor more corresponding actuation data sets of the electronic record. Inone exemplary implementation, one electronic locate mark is rendered inthe display field for each actuation data set of an electronic record.With reference again to Table 6 and FIG. 10, in one embodiment eachactuation data set includes at least T1 geo-location data for a start ofan actuation of a marking device and one or more other pieces ofgeo-location data during actuation. Using multiple pieces ofgeo-location data per actuation data set, an electronic locate mark maybe rendered as a line in the display field (e.g., so as to visuallyrepresent one of the physical locate marks 414-1, 414-2 or 414-3 shownin FIG. 8). In another exemplary implementation, an electronic locatemark may be rendered for each geo-location data in a given entry, suchthat multiple electronic locate marks correspond to one actuation (e.g.,a series of dots electronically rendered to graphically represent aline-type physical locate mark). In one aspect, as discussed above, agiven electronic locate mark may be rendered in a particular colorand/or line type to represent a type of underground facility representedby the mark (e.g., as indicated by marking material information includedin the electronic record).

FIG. 15 illustrates a plan view of an exemplary composite visualrepresentation 900 that “electronically recreates” a marking operationfor various underground facilities and environmental landmarks presentin a work site/dig area, based for example on the process 1200 discussedabove in connection with FIG. 12. In particular, FIG. 15 illustrates anumber of electronic locate marks corresponding to actuations of amarking device whose relative positions in the display field are derivedfrom marking actuation data sets of the electronic record, as discussedabove. In the example of FIG. 15, act-1 through act-7 form a linespattern 910 representing a first marked underground facility, act-8through act-14 form a lines pattern 912 representing a second markedunderground facility, act-15 through act-24 form a lines pattern 914representing a third marked underground facility, and act-25 throughact-34 form a lines pattern 916 representing a fourth marked undergroundfacility. FIG. 15 also includes identifiers for various environmentallandmarks disposed in proximity to the electronic locate marks; inparticular, a building 950 is shown in the top portion of FIG. 15,whereas two utility poles 952 and 954, as well as a fire hydrant 956,are shown in the bottom portion of FIG. 15.

As noted above, while in one embodiment there may be a one-to-onecorrespondence between electronic locate marks rendered in a single orcomposite visual representation and physical locate marks placed in adig area during a marking operation, or there may be multiple electroniclocate marks for a corresponding physical locate mark, in yet otherembodiments a single or composite visual representation may provide avariety of other indicators/digital representations of markedunderground facilities in a computer-generated visual rendering. Forexample, FIG. 16 illustrates another example of a composite visualrepresentation 1000 based on the same electronic record used to generatethe composite visual representation 900 of FIG. 15, in which continuouslines are used to indicate the respective marking operations. To thisend, in one exemplary implementation, an additional step may be includedin the process 800 shown in FIG. 14, in which the processor may processthe marking geo-location data in an electronic record by filtering,averaging, interpolating and/or otherwise “smoothing” the data so as toconnect successive discrete locate marks represented by the respectiveactuation data sets of the electronic record and thereby provide asubstantially smooth continuous line for display.

Similarly, filtering, averaging, interpolating, processing and/orotherwise smoothing of data may be applied to landmark informationcaptured in landmark event entries. For example, multiple event entrieslogged for a particular environmental landmark (e.g., the four cornersof a pedestal) may be processed so as to provide a single point in adisplay field at which to display a symbol, icon or other identifier foran environmental landmark. Such processing may include, for example,selecting any one of multiple geo-location coordinates captured inmultiple event entries as representative of the landmark location,calculating a centroid of all points represented by capturedcoordinates, “pre-filtering” a collection of coordinates to eliminatesignificant “outliers” and subsequently determining a centroid of theremaining coordinates, etc.

In the example of FIG. 16, as also noted above, different undergroundfacility types may be indicated in different color lines, and thedifferent colors/facility types may be derived from the electronicrecord (e.g., based on the correlations provided in Table 7).Furthermore, in other aspects, text indicators may be included in thevisual representation, and/or other types of coding may be used(different line styles such as patterns, width, bold, etc.; a successionof symbols or other graphic icons, etc.) to indicate different facilitytypes, and/or some other aspect of a given facility (e.g., the materialused for a particular pipe, conduit, cable, sheathing; the diameter of aparticular pipe, conduit, cable; offsets to one or more environmentallandmarks, etc.). By way of example, FIG. 16 indicates that the fourunderground facilities in the composite visual representation correspondto a power line 1010 (which may be rendered in the color red), a firstsewer line 1012 (which may be rendered in the color green), a secondsewer line 1014 (which also may be rendered in the color green), and atelecommunications line 1016 (which may be rendered in the colororange). An exemplary composite visual representation may includeadditional textual, numeric and/or graphic elements to provide otherinformation available in the electronic record for the markingoperations (e.g., timestamp information, ID information, coordinates forlocation information, offset indications, etc.). For example, in FIG. 16an offset 958 of 3 feet is indicated between the fire hydrant 956 andthe sewer line 1014.

In some marking operations, a technician may use the marking device notonly to mark an underground facility's placement/path relative to theground, pavement or other surface, but also to “annotate” the markingoperation in some fashion. For example, in some instances a technicianactually “writes” with the marking device (e.g., by actuating themarking device to dispense paint) to provide text annotations, offsetindications, arrows, other symbols, and the like on the ground, pavementor other surface. Accordingly, the electronic record for a markingoperation may include one or more actuation data sets corresponding toactuations in which the technician was “writing” to annotate the markingoperation in some fashion rather than marking the path of an undergroundfacility. In some cases, providing such technician annotations on avisual representation of a marking operation may be desirable; however,in other instances such annotations may provide erratic markings on avisual representation, in which case additional processing ofgeo-location data or other information in the electronic record (e.g.,filtering, averaging, interpolating and/or otherwise “smoothing” thedata) may be employed.

In yet another embodiment, a single or composite visual representationof a marking operation, including one or both of marking information andlandmark information, may be rendered on a display device together witha digital image representative of at least a portion of a dig area at awork site, such that one or more electronic locate marks and/or one ormore identifiers for environmental landmarks appear in appropriaterelative positions overlaid on the displayed digital image. FIG. 17illustrates yet another example of a composite visual representation1100, albeit based on an electronic record different than that used togenerate the visual representations of FIGS. 15 and 16, in whichcontinuous lines are used to indicate the respective differentunderground facilities marked, and these lines are overlaid on a digitalimage of a dig area, together with identifiers for environmentallandmarks. It should be appreciated that although continuous linesrepresenting underground facilities are depicted on a digital image inFIG. 17, in other embodiments discrete electronic locate markscorresponding to successive actuations of a marking device (or multiplediscrete electronic locate marks per actuation) may be overlaid on adigital image of the dig area.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17, a number of different image sources andimage types may be employed to provide the digital image on which avisual representation of a marking operation may be overlaid. Forpurposes of the present disclosure, such a digital image (also referredto herein as an “input image”) may be any image represented by sourcedata that is electronically processed (e.g., the source data is in acomputer-readable format) to display the image on a display device. Aninput image may include any of a variety of paper/tangible image sourcesthat are scanned (e.g., via an electronic scanner) or otherwiseconverted so as to create source data (e.g., in various formats such asXML, PDF, JPG, BMP, etc.) that can be processed to display the inputimage. An input image also may include an image that originates assource data or an electronic file without necessarily having acorresponding paper/tangible copy of the image (e.g., an image of a“real-world” scene acquired by a digital still frame or video camera orother image acquisition device, in which the source data, at least inpart, represents pixel information from the image acquisition device).

In some exemplary implementations, input images according to the presentdisclosure may be created, provided, and/or processed by a geographicinformation system (GIS) that captures, stores, analyzes, manages andpresents data referring to (or linked to) location, such that the sourcedata representing the input image includes pixel information from animage acquisition device (corresponding to an acquired “real world”scene or representation thereof), and/or spatial/geographic information(“geo-encoded information”).

In view of the foregoing, various examples of input images and sourcedata representing input images according to the present disclosure, towhich the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be applied, includebut are not limited to:

-   -   Manual “free-hand” paper sketches of the geographic area (which        may include one or more buildings, natural or man-made        landmarks, property boundaries, streets/intersections, public        works or facilities such as street lighting, signage, fire        hydrants, mail boxes, parking meters, etc.);    -   Various maps indicating surface features and/or extents of        geographical areas, such as street/road maps, topographical        maps, military maps, parcel maps, tax maps, town and county        planning maps, call-center and/or facility polygon maps, virtual        maps, etc. (such maps may or may not include geo-encoded        information);    -   Facility maps illustrating installed underground facilities,        such as gas, power, telephone, cable, fiber optics, water,        sewer, drainage, etc. Facility maps may also indicate        street-level features (streets, buildings, public facilities,        etc.) in relation to the depicted underground facilities.        Examples of facility maps include CAD drawings that may be        created and viewed with a GIS to include geo-encoded information        (e.g., metadata) that provides location information (e.g.,        infrastructure vectors) for represented items on the facility        map;    -   Architectural, construction and/or engineering drawings and        virtual renditions of a space/geographic area (including “as        built” or post-construction drawings);    -   Land surveys, i.e., plots produced at ground level using        references to known points such as the center line of a street        to plot the metes and bounds and related location data regarding        a building, parcel, utility, roadway, or other object or        installation;    -   A grid (a pattern of horizontal and vertical lines used as a        reference) to provide representational geographic information        (which may be used “as is” for an input image or as an overlay        for an acquired “real world” scene, drawing, map, etc.);    -   “Bare” data representing geo-encoded information (geographical        data points) and not necessarily derived from an        acquired/captured real-world scene (e.g., not pixel information        from a digital camera or other digital image acquisition        device). Such “bare” data may be nonetheless used to construct a        displayed input image, and may be in any of a variety of        computer-readable formats, including XML);    -   Photographic renderings/images, including street level,        topographical, satellite, and aerial photographic        renderings/images, any of which may be updated periodically to        capture changes in a given geographic area over time (e.g.,        seasonal changes such as foliage density, which may variably        impact the ability to see some aspects of the image); and    -   An image, such as any of the above image types, that includes        one or more dig area indicators, or “virtual white lines,” that        provide one or more indications of or graphically delimit a dig        area, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.        12/366,853, published as U.S. Patent Publication        2009-0238417-A1, incorporated by reference herein. The virtual        white lines may include lines, drawing shapes, shades, symbols,        coordinates, data sets, or other indicators that are added to an        image, and may assist a locate technician in the performance of        a locate operation by identifying the area of interest, i.e.,        the dig area. In this manner, a searchable electronic record        according to the concepts disclosed herein may be generated        based on a previously marked-up input image on which the dig        area is indicated.

It should also be appreciated that source data representing an inputimage may be compiled from multiple data/information sources; forexample, any two or more of the examples provided above for input imagesand source data representing input images, or any two or more other datasources, can provide information that can be combined or integrated toform source data that is electronically processed to display an image ona display device.

As noted above, in some implementations an input image may be indexed toGlobal Positioning System (GPS) coordinates or another coordinate systemthat provides geo-spatial positioning. An input image may includegeo-coding or other geographical identification metadata and may beprovided in any computer-readable format. An input image may alsoinclude images of map symbols, such as roads and street names, that maybe superimposed upon or displayed separately from an underlyinggeographic area when the input image is displayed on a display device.

Based on the foregoing, a digital image may be displayed in an availabledisplay field of a display device either before or after electroniclocate marks and/or identifiers for environmental landmarks aredisplayed in the available display field. For example, in oneimplementation, after the block 806 in FIG. 14, all or a portion of thedigital image may be mapped to the available display field based on anyrelevant geographic information accompanying the digital image (e.g.,GPS coordinates to which the image is indexed). Alternatively, thedigital image may be mapped first to the available display field of thedisplay device depending on appropriate scaling and/or transformationparameters as would be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill inthe art, and thereafter one or more electronic locate marks and/or oneor more identifiers for environmental landmarks similarly may be mappedto the available display field in appropriate positions relative to theunderlying digital image. In the example of FIG. 17, a first visualrepresentation of a gas line 1130 is depicted, a second visualrepresentation of a communication line 1120 is depicted, and a thirdvisual representation of an electric line 1110 is depicted on an aerialimage of a residential dig area for purposes of illustration. Asdiscussed above in connection with other embodiments, these visualrepresentations may be displayed in different colors and/or line typesto denote different types of underground facilities and/or variousattributes of a given facility. As also illustrated in FIG. 17, othertypes of markings may be included as part of the displayed image,including various environmental landmarks such as junction boxes ortransformers 1140, streets, property boundaries, tie-downs (referencelines between marked facilities and environmental landmarks and/orproperty boundaries) and their associated dimensions, and one or moretext boxes 2173 (e.g., to indicate an address of the work site over theresidence), and the like.

In some implementations, marking information and landmark information,if displayed together, may be differentiated in a display field in anyof a variety of manners (e.g., different line types, symbols orpatterns; different colors or shades of related colors; artificiallyoffset from each other in the display field if marking information andlandmark information overlap or are sufficiently close to each other insome instances, etc.) to allow for sufficient visual perception of bothmarking information and landmark information.

Additionally, in one embodiment, each of marking information andlandmark information, if present in a computer-aided visual rendering,as well as any constituent information forming part of the markinginformation and landmark information, may be displayed as separate“layers” of the visual rendering, such that a viewer of the visualrendering may turn on and turn off displayed information based on acategorization of the displayed information. FIG. 18 shows a genericdisplay device 1800 having a display field 3005 with exemplary contentfor purposes of explaining some concepts germane to display layers,according to one embodiment. For example, all marking information may becategorized generally under one layer designation 3030 (“marking layer”)and independently enabled or disabled for display accordingly, and alllandmark information may be categorized generally under yet anotherlayer designation 3040 (“landmark layer”) and independently enabled ordisabled for display accordingly. Respective layers may be enabled ordisabled for display in any of a variety of manners; for example, in oneimplementation, a “layer directory” or “layer legend” pane 3010 may beincluded in the display field 3005 (or as a separate window selectablefrom the display field of the visual rendering), showing all availablelayers, and allowing a viewer to select each available layer to beeither displayed or hidden, thus facilitating comparative viewing oflayers.

Furthermore, any of the above-mentioned general categories for layersmay have sub-categories for sub-layers, such that each sub-layer mayalso be selectively enabled or disabled for viewing by a viewer. Forexample, under the general layer designation of “marking layer,”different facility types that may have been detected during a markingoperation (and indicated in the marking information by color, forexample) may be categorized under different sub-layer designations(e.g., designation 3032 for “marking layer—electric;” designation 3034for “marking layer—gas;” etc.); in this manner, a viewer may be able tohide only the electric marking information while viewing the gas markinginformation, or vice versa, in addition to having the option to view orhide all marking information. Sub-layer designations similarly may beemployed for the landmark information (e.g., designation 3042 for“landmark layer—water/sewer;” designation 3044 for “landmarklayer—CATV;” designation 3046 for “landmark layer—buildings”). As shownin the example of FIG. 18, both the marking and landmark layers areenabled for display; amongst the illustrated sub-layer designations,only the “electric” sub-layer of the marking layer is enabled fordisplay, and only the “buildings” sub-layer of the landmark layer isenabled for display. Accordingly, using the exemplary composite visualrepresentation 1000 shown in FIG. 16 as a baseline for purposes ofillustration, only the power line 1010 appears in the electronicrendering 1000A shown in FIG. 18 as a constituent element of theelectric sub-layer of the marking layer, together with the building 950.

Virtually any characteristic of the information available for displaymay serve to categorize the information for purposes of display layersor sub-layers. In particular, any of the various exemplary constituentelements of marking information discussed herein (e.g., timinginformation, geographic information, service-related information, ticketinformation, marking material information, environmental information,and operational information, the latter two of which are discussed ingreater detail further below) may be categorized as a sub-layer, and oneor more sub-layers may further be categorized into constituent elementsfor selective display (e.g., as sub-sub-layers). Similarly, any of thevarious exemplary constituent elements of landmark information discussedherein (e.g., geo-location data of an environmental landmark, type ofenvironmental landmark, a time stamp for any acquired informationrelating to an environmental landmark) may be categorized as a sub-layer(and any sub-layer may be further categorized into sub-sub-layers, andso on).

It should further be appreciated that, according to various embodiments,the attributes and/or type of visual information displayed as a resultof selecting one or more layers or sub-layers is not limited. Inparticular, visual information corresponding to a selected layer orsub-layer may be electronically rendered in the form of one or morelines or shapes (of various colors, shadings and/or line types), text,graphics (e.g., symbols or icons), and/or images, for example Likewise,the visual information corresponding to a selected layer or sub-layermay include multiple forms of visual information (one or more of lines,shapes, text, graphics and/or images).

As a non-limiting illustrative example, a “marking” layer may includerespective sub-layers of different facility types marked, in whichrespective facility types are rendered on the display as lines havingdifferent colors, line types and/or shading. A “temperature” sub-layerof a “marking” layer may include ground temperatures sensed duringmarking of respective facility types, in which sensed temperatures arerendered on the display as an icon/symbol in combination with text(e.g., a snowflake accompanied by a text label “15 deg. F”) in proximityto the visual rendering of the marked facility. From the foregoing, itmay be appreciated that a wide variety of information may be categorizedin a nested hierarchy of layers, and information included in the layersmay be visually rendered, when selected/enabled for display, in avariety of manners.

In addition to the marking information and/or the landmark information,in yet other embodiments in which a digital image is rendered in thedisplay field (e.g., as shown in FIG. 17), the image information onwhich the digital image is based may be categorized as a display layer,such that the marking information, landmark information, and imageinformation may be selectively enabled or disabled for display as adisplay layer. In this manner, the displayed digital image on which oneor both of marking information and landmark information may be overlaid(and in some instances constituent elements thereof) may be toggled onand off conveniently for comparative display.

In one exemplary implementation, all image information may becategorized generally under one layer designation (e.g., “Reference”—seedesignation 3050 in FIG. 18), and independently enabled or disabled fordisplay (e.g., hidden) accordingly. Similarly, while not shown in FIG.18, in some implementations all information available for overlay,including both marking information and landmark information ifavailable, may be categorized generally under another layer designation(e.g., “Field”) and independently enabled or disabled for display;accordingly, it should be appreciated that in one aspect of thisalternative implementation, under the general layer designation of“Field,” the marking information may be categorized as one sub-layer ofthe Field layer (in some cases with additional associated markingsub-sub-layers) and the landmark information may be categorized asanother sub-layer of the Field layer (in some cases with additionalassociated landmark sub-sub-layers).

Like the “Field” layer, the “Reference” layer similarly may have one ormore sub-layers for various constituent elements of the imageinformation upon which the digital image is rendered. Virtually anynumber of possible sub-layers may be accordingly designated, based atleast on the various examples of image information discussed above(e.g., maps, such as road maps or facilities maps; dig area indicators,either alone or forming part of a digital image; grids, either alone orforming part of a digital image; engineering or architectural drawings;photographic renderings; etc.—any of which may have constituent elementsof information that respectively may be categorized as image or“Reference” sub-layers). To provide illustrative non-limiting examplesof sub-layers of the “Reference” layer, FIG. 18 indicates a “digitalimage” sub-layer with the designation 3052, a “dig area indicator(s)”sub-layer with the designation 3054, and a “grid” sub-layer with thedesignation 3056.

The various examples of visual representations illustrated in FIGS.15-18 may be used for various purposes, including, but not limited to:

-   -   (1) The display may be viewed by the marking technician for        substantially immediate feedback of his/her work performed,        which can be compared against the ticket information to ensure        that the full scope of the current marking operation has been        completed satisfactorily.    -   (2) The display may be viewed by a supervisor (using remote        computer 150 that is receiving the data) as substantially        immediate feedback of work performed by the marking technician,        which again can be compared against the ticket information to        ensure that the full scope of the current marking operation has        been completed satisfactorily. When the supervisor is viewing        the marking operation in real time, he/she may contact the        marking technician in real time in the event that the marking        operation is unsatisfactory;    -   (3) The display may be viewed by a quality control supervisor        (using remote computer 150 that has received the data) as        feedback of work performed by the technician, which again can be        compared against the ticket information to ensure that the full        scope of the current marking operation has been completed        satisfactorily. By viewing the marking operation, the quality        control supervisor may dispatch a quality control technician or        other personnel in the event that there is the marking operation        is unsatisfactory, and    -   (4) The display may be viewed by a training supervisor as        feedback of work performed by the marking technician, which can        be used to assess employee performance and direct training        activities.

VII. ENVIRONMENTAL AND OPERATIONAL SENSORS, AND INFORMATION DERIVEDTHEREFROM

According to another aspect of the present invention, a marking deviceincludes one or more environmental and/or operational sensors, whichconstitute additional examples of input devices from which markinginformation may be derived. In particular, one or more environmentalsensors associated with a marking device may provide a variety ofenvironmental information in connection with use of the device;similarly, one or more operational sensors associated with the markingdevice may provide a variety of operational information in connectionwith use of the marking device. One or both of such environmentalinformation and operational information may constitute all or a portionof marking information and may be employed in any of the mannersdescribed above in connection with marking information. In particular,environmental information and/or operational information may belogged/stored in local memory of a marking device, transferred to andstored in internet accessible memory, formatted in various manners,processed and/or analyzed at the marking device itself, and/ortransmitted to another device (e.g., a remote computer/server, aninternet storage site, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant(PDA), etc.) for storage, processing and/or analysis.

As used herein, environmental sensors are those which sense somecondition of the environment in which the marking device is present, butneed not sense a condition of the marking device itself. Examples ofenvironmental conditions which may be sensed include, but are notlimited to, temperature, humidity, light, and altitude among others.Environmental sensors may be included with the marking device for one ormore of various reasons. For example, information provided by one ormore of the environmental sensors may be used to assess whether amarking operation was or is being performed in suitable environmentalconditions (e.g., within accepted environmental tolerances).Additionally or alternatively, information provided by one or moreenvironmental sensors may be used to interact with the technicianoperating the marking device, for example by issuing a notification orwarning signal to the technician if the sensed environmental conditionis outside of an acceptable range (i.e., out of tolerance). Also, theinformation from the environmental sensor(s) may trigger an action oralteration of the marking device, such as activating, enabling ordisabling a particular component of the marking device. Additionally oralternatively, information provided by one or more environmental sensorsmay augment other information collected by the marking device, such asany of the types of information described above as being collected by amarking device according to various embodiments herein. In someinstances, information from two or more of the environmental sensors maybe used in combination, examples of which are described in detail below.

As used herein, operational sensors are those which sense some operatingcondition of the marking device. Examples of such conditions include,but are not limited to, the angle of inclination of the marking device,the direction or heading of the marking device, a pressure applied tothe marking device, and/or some characteristic of motion of the markingdevice (e.g., the speed at which the marking device is moving, theacceleration of the marking device, etc.), among others. Operationalsensors may be included with the marking device for one or more ofvarious reasons. For example, information provided by one or more of theoperational sensors may be used to assess whether a marking device wasor is operating appropriately during a marking operation or whether themarking device was or is being operated (e.g., both electronicallyand/or physically manipulated) appropriately by the technician (e.g.,within accepted tolerances or according to protocols). Additionally oralternatively, information from one or more operational sensors may beused to detect patterns of operation of the technician, such astechnician “signatures” in using/manipulating the marking device (e.g.,characteristic movements unique to the technician). Additionally oralternatively, information from one or more operational sensors may beused to interact with the technician, for example by issuing anotification or warning signal to the technician in response to thedetected operational characteristic falling outside of an acceptablerange. Also, the information from the operational sensor(s) may triggeran action or alteration of the marking device, such as activating,enabling or disabling a particular component of the marking device.Additionally or alternatively, information provided by one or moreoperational sensors may augment other information collected by themarking device, such as any of the types of information previouslydescribed herein in connection with other embodiments. Other uses ofdata provided by one or more operational sensors are also possible andcontemplated in the various aspects described herein. In some instances,information from two or more operational sensors may be used incombination, examples of which are described below. Furthermore,information from one or more operational sensors may be used incombination with information from one or more environmental sensors, asalso described further below.

It should be appreciated that some of the sensors described herein maybe considered both environmental and operational sensors, either becausethe sensor senses both an environmental condition and an operatingcondition of the marking device (i.e., the sensor senses more than onecondition) or because a single condition sensed by the sensor may beconsidered both an environmental condition and an operating condition.For example, an image capture device may be considered both anenvironmental sensor (e.g., the image capture device may capture animage of the surrounding environment) and an operational sensor (e.g.,the image capture device may capture an image of some action thetechnician has taken, such as dispensing of a marker). Furthermore, theoperation of a sensor may change over time. For example, a sensor may beconfigured at one time to measure an internal operating temperature andat a different time to measure an outside ambient temperature. Thus, itshould be appreciated that while the sensors described below arecategorized generally as being either environmental or operational forpurposes of illustrating some exemplary implementations, the categoriesare not mutually exclusive, and such categorization is not limitingunless otherwise stated.

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of a data acquisition systemincluding a marking device with both environmental sensors andoperational sensors, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 19, the data acquisition system 2000includes a marking device 2010 and the previously described remotecomputer 150. The marking device 2010 comprises control electronics 112,power source 114, and marking dispenser 116, all of which also have beendescribed above in connection with other embodiments. The marking device2010 also comprises a light source 1832, and one or both ofenvironmental sensors 1820 and operational sensors 1920. It should beappreciated that while both environmental sensors 1820 and operationalsensors 1920 are shown in the marking device 2010, marking devicesaccording to other embodiments contemplated by the present disclosureneed not necessarily include both environmental sensors and operationalsensors.

With respect to environmental sensors, non-limiting examples of suitableenvironmental sensors include a temperature sensor (e.g., one or more ofan ambient temperature sensor and a surface temperature sensor (e.g., atemperature sensor for sensing a temperature of a surface on whichmarking material is being dispensed)), a humidity sensor, a lightsensor, an altitude sensor, an image capture device (e.g., a camera),and an audio recorder. This list is not exhaustive, however, as othertypes of environmental sensors may be included as appropriate to sensevarious environmental conditions of interest.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing details of the environmental sensors1820 shown in FIG. 19, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 20, the illustrated environmental sensors 1820include an ambient temperature sensor 1822, a surface temperature sensor1823, a humidity sensor 1824, a light sensor 1826, an altitude sensor1827, an image capture device 1828, and an audio recorder 1830.Additional or alternative environmental sensors may be included, and oneor more of the illustrated environmental sensors may be omitted, in someembodiments. The environmental sensors may be coupled to the processor118 to receive control signals from the processor 118 and/or to providetheir respective outputs (e.g., signals, data, information) to theprocessor 118, and, as described further below, may operate in one ofvarious suitable manners. Information provided by any of theenvironmental sensors may be stored in local memory 122, for example asan electronic record 2835, described below, and/or transmitted to anexternal device, such as the remote computer 150, remote storage, etc.

The ambient temperature sensor 1822 may be configured to sense theambient temperature in the vicinity of the marking device 2010. Theambient temperature may be a useful piece of information, for example indetermining whether the temperature is adverse to performance of themarking operation, which may occur when the temperature is too hot ortoo cold (e.g., thereby adversely affecting some characteristic of themarking material itself, or dispensing of marking material). Forexample, in some embodiments, it may be preferable to operate themarking device only within a predetermined ambient temperature rangebetween 20° F. and 110° F., although other ranges are possible. Inaddition, as described further below, the ambient temperature may beuseful in combination with one or more other types of environmentallysensed inputs, such as humidity, in evaluating the conditions in which amarking operation is performed.

The ambient temperature sensor may be any suitable temperature sensor,such as an infrared sensor, and may be an analog or digital temperaturesensor, as the various aspects described herein relating to a markingdevice including an ambient temperature sensor are not limited to usingany particular type of temperature sensor. According to one embodiment,the temperature sensor may be part of a combined temperature andhumidity sensor, such as the HS-2000V from Precon of Memphis, Tenn. Insome embodiments, the ambient temperature sensor may be suitable tooperate between −40° F. and 125° F., or over any other suitable range,which in some embodiments may encompass the expected temperatures towhich the marking device may be exposed during normal operation. Thedata output by the ambient temperature sensor 1822 may be stored inlocal memory 122 and/or may be transmitted to an external device, suchas remote computer 150, in those embodiments in which the marking device2010 is communicatively coupled to the external device.

The surface temperature sensor 1823 may be configured to sense thetemperature of the surface on which the marking device is dispensing themarking material (e.g., the ground under the marking device). Thetemperature of the surface may be useful information for variousreasons, for example in assessing whether the surface temperature iswithin an acceptable range for dispensing the marking material. As anexample, some commercially available paints, which may be used as amarking material in some embodiments, provide recommended temperatureranges for painting, such as between 70° F. and 80° F., outside of whichthe paint may not coat, sufficiently dry or remain on the paintedsurface. Thus, as a non-limiting example, information from the surfacetemperature sensor 1823 may be used to assess whether the markingoperation was or is being performed in such recommended temperatureconditions. As with the ambient temperature sensor 1822, the informationprovided by the surface temperature sensor 1823 may be stored in localmemory 122 and/or transmitted to an external device, such as the remotecomputer 150.

The surface temperature sensor 1823 may be any suitable type of sensorfor determining surface temperature, such as an infrared temperaturesensor or any other suitable type of temperature sensor. In someembodiments, the surface temperature sensor may be configured to operateacross a range of temperatures encompassing all expected surfacetemperatures on which marking material may be dispensed during normaloperation. For example, in one embodiment the surface temperature sensormay operate between −40° F. and 125° F., although other temperatureranges are also possible.

The humidity sensor 1824 may be configured to sense the humidity of theenvironment in which the marking device 2010 is used, and in someembodiments may provide a relative humidity measurement (e.g., 0% to100% humidity). Such information may be useful alone or in combinationwith other information in determining whether, for example, theenvironment is too humid for performance of the marking operation. Forexample, if the humidity is too great, marking material such as paintmay not adequately dry and/or remain in place on the surface on which itis dispensed. In some embodiments, humidity greater than 90% may beadverse to painting, although the humidity tolerance may differ fordifferent materials. Thus, an acceptable humidity for painting on grass,for example, may differ from that for painting on concrete or dirt. Thehumidity information provided by humidity sensor 1824 may be used toassess whether a marking operation was or is being performed withinacceptable humidity tolerances. The humidity sensor may be any suitabletype of humidity sensor, as the type is not limiting. According to oneembodiment, the humidity sensor may be part of a combined temperatureand humidity sensor, such as the HS-2000V from Precon of Memphis, Tenn.The information provided by the humidity sensor 1824 may be stored inlocal memory 122 and/or transmitted to an external device, such as theremote computer 150.

The light sensor 1826 may be configured to sense the intensity, flux, orilluminance of ambient light in the vicinity of the marking device 2010.Such information may be useful, for example, to assess whether a markingoperation was or is being performed in suitable lighting conditions(e.g., whether there was sufficient light to allow for accurateperformance of a marking operation, whether the area surrounding themarking operation is sufficiently lit to ensure worker safety, etc.).The light sensor 1826 may be any suitable type of light sensor. In oneembodiment, the light sensor is a cadmium sulfide (CdS) photocell, whichis a photoresistor device whose resistance decreases with increasingincident light intensity. Such a device may provide a resistance orvoltage measurement as its output indicative of measured flux. However,other types of light sensors may alternatively be used. One non-limitingexample of a suitable photocell is the PDV-P5001 from Advanced Photonix,Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich.

The units output by the light sensor may depend on whether the lightsensor is sensing light intensity, light flux, or illuminance. Forexample, the output may be in candela for light intensity, lumen forflux, or lux for illuminance. According to one embodiment, target valuesfor illuminance for accurate performance of a marking operation may bebetween approximately 1,000 lux and 100,000 lux, although other rangesmay be appropriate based on a particular location and type of markingoperation being performed. According to one embodiment, the output maybe converted to a percentage between 0% and 100%, for example in which0% corresponds to darkness and 100% corresponds to full sunlight. Otheroutputs may alternatively be produced. The information provided by thelight sensor 1826 may be stored in local memory 122 and/or transmittedto an external device, such as the remote computer 150.

According to one embodiment, the marking device further comprises alight source 1832, such as a flashlight or light emitting diode (LED)torch. The light source 1832 may be activated manually (e.g., by thetechnician) or may be coupled to the light sensor 1826 (e.g., directlycoupled or coupled through one or more components, such as processor118) and activated automatically in response to the light sensor sensingan unsatisfactorily low lighting condition (e.g., by receiving a signalfrom processor 118 or by directly receiving an output signal of thelight sensor). The threshold light level for such automatic activationmay be any suitable level, non-limiting examples of which include anylevel at which the technician may have difficulty seeing and thereforeperforming the marking operation, and any predetermined level belowwhich technician safety may be comprised. Information about suchactivation of the light source (e.g., the occurrence of the activation,the time of activation, the duration, etc.) may be stored in localmemory 122 and/or transmitted to an external device, such as the remotecomputer 150.

The altitude sensor 1827 may be configured to measure the altitude ofthe marking device 2010, and may be any suitable type of altitude sensorfor doing so. The altitude at which a marking operation is performed mayimpact the performance of a marking material (e.g., paint) and workersafety, among other considerations. Thus, information about the altitudemay be useful for a variety of reasons.

The output of the altitude sensor 1827 may be in any suitable units, andin some embodiments provides an altitude with respect to sea level. Forexample, the altitude sensor may provide an altitude in meters, miles,feet, or any other suitable units. The information provided by thealtitude sensor 1827 may be stored in local memory 122 and/ortransmitted to an external device, such as the remote computer 150.

The image capture device 1828 may be positioned on the marking device tocapture an image of the environment surrounding the marking device 2010,may be positioned to capture an image of marking material dispensed bythe marking device 2010, or may be configured or configurable in anysuitable manner to capture any type of image of interest. According toone embodiment, a technician may be meant to take a picture of themarking material dispensed during a marking operation and/or of anenvironmental landmark in the vicinity of where marking material isdispensed. Thus, inclusion of an image capture device 1828 in themarking device 2010 may facilitate compliance with such protocols.

The image capture device 1828 may be capable of taking still images,video images, or both, as the various aspects described herein relatingto marking devices including an image capture device are not limited inthis respect. Thus, the image capture device 1828 may be any suitabletype of image capture device, and in some embodiments may be a type thatis suitable for use in a portable device, such as, but not limited to,the types of digital cameras that may be installed in portable phones,wide angle digital cameras, 360 degree digital cameras, infrared (IR)cameras, and the like. In some implementations, a wide angle lens andautomatic zoom may be utilized to maximize the coverage area of eachimage.

The output of the image capture device may include various information.The output may include all or part of a captured image. Additionally oralternatively, the output may include information about the settingsand/or operation of the image capture device, such as any one or more ofresolution, frame rate (for video images), flash status (i.e., flashused or not used), image size, video sequence duration, zoom setting,etc.

In those embodiments in which the image capture device is a digitaldevice, the images may be stored in local memory 122 and/or transmittedto an external device, such as the remote computer 150. The images maybe in any standard or proprietary image file format (e.g., JPEG, TIFF,BMP, etc.). Furthermore, the images may be associated with a specificjob, a geographic position, and an exact time, in some embodiments, forexample by flagging the image based on the time at which it was taken,the location at which it was taken, and/or the job during which it wastaken. In one embodiment, each captured image may be cached andtransmitted with all other captured data from one or more othersensors/input devices.

The environmental sensors 1820 may further comprise an audio recorder1830, which may be used to capture audio input from a technician and/orfrom the environment (e.g., sounds in the vicinity of the markingdevice). Thus, in one embodiment, the technician may, for example,dictate notes relating to the performance of the marking operation, suchas describing visible landmarks in the area of the marking operation,notes about performance of the marking device, or any other notes whichmay be relevant to performance of a marking operation. In oneembodiment, the audio recorder may record sounds from the environment,such as passing cars, planes, etc. Such recordings may be useful, forexample, in assessing whether a technician was at the intended locationof the marking operation. For example, if a passing train is evidentfrom the recording and the intended marking location is not near a traintrack, the recording may provide evidence that the technician was in thewrong location.

The audio recorder 1830 may be an analog or digital device or devices.For example, in one embodiment the audio recorder 1830 may be an analogrecorder configured to receive an analog input signal (e.g., from amicrophone) and store the analog signal. According to anotherembodiment, the audio recorder 1830 may be a digital audio recorder,including any suitable combination of components for receiving an analogsignal (e.g., from a microphone), converting the analog signal to adigital signal, performing any suitable digital signal processing (e.g.,filtering, amplifying, converting to text, etc.) and storing the digitalinformation. According to one embodiment, the audio recorder may includea dedicated digital audio processor to perform those functions recitedor any other suitable functions. It should be appreciated from theforegoing that a microphone (not shown in FIG. 19) may be associatedwith the audio recorder 1830 to provide the audio input to the audiorecorder.

According to one embodiment, for example in which a technician maydictate notes, the audio processing of the audio input may includeperforming speech recognition (e.g., speech to text generation). Suchfunctionality may be provided by suitable speech recognition softwareexecuting on a dedicated audio processor, or in any other suitablemanner. Any generated text may be, for example, displayed on a displayof the user interface 126, or may be stored for later display on aseparate device.

The recordings provided by the audio recorder 1830 may be stored in adedicated audio memory, in local memory 122 and/or transmitted to anexternal device, such as the remote computer 150. In those embodimentsin which the audio recorder is a digital audio recorder, the audio filesmay be in any standard or proprietary audio file format (e.g., WAV, MP3,etc.).

Although not illustrated in FIG. 20, the communication interface 124 ofFIG. 19 may also serve as or enable another environmental sensor.According to one embodiment, the marking device may be internet enabledand information may be received via the communication interface 124 overthe internet. According to one embodiment, information about anenvironmental condition may be received via the communication interface.For example, temperature information or humidity information, amongothers, may be received over the internet via communication interface124. In such instances, the received temperature or humidity informationmay augment any temperature and humidity information collected by atemperature and humidity sensor of the marking device, or may replacesuch information, such that in some embodiments the marking device maynot include a physical temperature or humidity sensor. Thus, it shouldbe appreciated that the communication interface may serve as a “virtualsensor” by receiving environmental information of interest, not beinglimited to temperature and humidity.

As explained above, another type of input device which may be includedwith a marking device is an operational sensor. Thus, according to oneaspect of the present invention and as shown in FIG. 19, the markingdevice 2010 may include one or more operational sensors 1920 for sensingone or more operating conditions or characteristics of the markingdevice.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing details of the operational sensorsshown in FIG. 19, according to one embodiment of the present invention.The illustrated exemplary operational sensors 1920 include, but are notlimited to, one or more temperature sensors 1922, a compass 1924, aninclinometer 1926, one or more accelerometers 1928, a yaw rate sensor1929, a proximity sensor 1930, a pressure sensor 1931, one or moredevice health sensors 1932, the image capture device 1828, and the audiorecorder 1830. Additional or alternative operational sensors may beincluded, and one or more of the illustrated operational sensors may beomitted, in some embodiments. The operational sensors may be coupled tothe processor 118 to receive control signals from the processor 118and/or to provide their respective outputs to the processor 118, and, asdescribed further below, may operate in one of various suitable manners.Information provided by any of the operational sensors may be stored inlocal memory 122, for example in an electronic record 2835, describedbelow, and/or transmitted to an external device, such as the remotecomputer 150, remote storage, etc.

One or more operational temperature sensors 1922 may be configured tosense any temperature of interest with respect to the marking device2010. For example, it may be desirable in some embodiments to monitorthe temperature of the processing circuitry of the marking device 2010,such as the temperature of the processor 118. Alternatively, it may bedesirable in some embodiments to monitor the temperature of othercomponents of the marking device 2010, for example, the temperature ofone of the other operational sensors 1920. Thus, it should beappreciated that a plurality of operational temperature sensors 1922 maybe included and arranged to sense any operating temperatures of interestof the marking device 2010. In this manner, the operating temperaturesof one or more components of the marking device 2010 may be monitoredand an alert or notification may be generated (e.g., by the controlelectronics) and provided to the technician if one of the operatingtemperatures is determined to be outside of an acceptable tolerance, forexample if a component is overheating. Alternatively, the temperaturefrom one or more operational temperature sensors 1922 may be used tocalibrate or compensate data or signals provided by any one of the othersensors which may have a temperature-dependent output.

The temperature sensor(s) 1922 may be any suitable temperature sensor,such as a temperature-dependent variable resistor, or any other type oftemperature sensor suitable for measuring the temperature of thecomponents of interest of the marking device. The temperature sensor1922 may be configured to operate over any suitable temperature range ofinterest, which in one embodiment may be from −40° F. to 125° F.,although other temperature ranges may be employed in other embodiments.The data output by the temperature sensor 1922 may be stored in localmemory 122 and/or may be transmitted to an external device, such asremote computer 150, in those embodiments in which the marking device2010 is communicatively coupled to the external device.

The compass 1924 may be configured to determine the direction in whichthe marking device 2010 is facing, and therefore may be positioned atone of various suitable locations. For example, according to oneembodiment, the compass 1924 may be positioned toward the top of themarking device 2010, and aligned such that the compass identifies thedirection toward which the front of the marking device points (i.e., thedirection in which the marking device faces when held by thetechnician). The heading information provided by the compass 1924 may beprovided in degrees or in any other suitable units, and may be providedrelative to a reference direction (e.g., relative to true North).According to one embodiment, the compass may be initially calibrated totrue North, such that subsequent heading readings may be relative totrue North.

The heading information provided by the compass 1924 may be useful todetermine a direction in which the technician moves during a markingoperation. Such information may be particularly useful in instances inwhich the location tracking system 130 does not provide a signal or asufficiently accurate signal to monitor the technician's movements. Thecompass 1924 may be any suitable type of compass, including analog ordigital, and may provide any suitable readout. According to oneembodiment, the compass 1924 is a digital compass, which provides aheading of the marking device 2010. According to one embodiment, thecompass may include one or more gyroscopes. According to one embodiment,the compass 1924 is an OS4000-T solid state tilt compensated nanocompass available from OceanServer Technology, Inc. of Fall River, Mass.The information provided by the compass 1924 may be stored in localmemory 122 and/or transmitted to an external device, such as the remotecomputer 150.

The inclinometer 1926 may be any suitable inclinometer configurable tomeasure an angle of inclination of the marking device 2010. According toone embodiment, the inclinometer may provide an angle with respect toground. According to one embodiment, the inclinometer may be amulti-axis digital device and may sense angles with respect tohorizontal and/or vertical planes. The inclinometer may provide avoltage as an output signal, indicative of the angle of inclination.According to some embodiments, the inclinometer may have an output rangespanning+/−30 degrees (e.g., with respect to ground), although otherranges may alternatively be provided by some inclinometers.

The inclinometer 1926 may be positioned toward the top of the markingdevice 2010, for example, near where the technician may hold the markingdevice during use. Alternatively, according to another embodiment, theinclinometer may be positioned substantially near the tip of the markingdevice 2010 (i.e., the end of the marking device from which markingmaterial is dispensed), which may be substantially the same as tip 2302of the marking device 2100 illustrated in FIG. 23. Other locations forthe inclinometer with respect to the marking device are also possible.

The information provided by the inclinometer may be useful for one ormore of various purposes. For example, according to one embodiment, theinformation about the angle of the marking device may be useful indetermining whether the technician is appropriately using the markingdevice (e.g., for determining whether the marking device is being heldat a suitable angle relative to the surface (e.g., the ground) on whichmarking material is being dispensed to ensure accurate dispensing of themarking material), and in some instances may therefore be used todisable the marking dispenser if the technician is holding the markingdevice at an inappropriate angle. According to another embodiment, asdescribed in further detail below in connection with FIG. 28, theinformation about the angle of the marking device may be used todetermine the location of one point of the marking device relative to asecond point of the marking device (e.g., for use in determining therelative positioning of the tip of the marking device compared to thetop of the marking device). The information provided by the inclinometermay be stored in local memory 122 and/or transmitted to an externaldevice, such as the remote computer 150.

One or more accelerometers 1928 may be configured to sense theacceleration of the marking device 2010 and may provide an output interms of g-force or in any other suitable units. Such information may beuseful, for example, in assessing whether a technician is appropriatelyusing (e.g., physically moving or manipulating) the marking device 2010.For example, there may be predetermined acceptable acceleration rangesassociated with normal operation of the marking device, and thereforethe accelerometer(s) 1928 may provide information which may be used toassess whether a technician is operating the marking device 2010 withinthose acceptable ranges. In addition, any acceleration data provided bythe accelerometer(s) may be integrated to obtain velocity data and/orintegrated twice to obtain data about distance traveled (e.g., viaappropriate functionality included in the marking data algorithm 134 orother algorithm executed by the processor 118), either of whichintegration results may be useful for a variety of reasons. Theacceleration information provided by the accelerometer(s) 1928 may bestored in local memory 122 and/or transmitted to an external device,such as the remote computer 150.

The accelerometer(s) 1928 may be any suitable accelerometer for sensingthe acceleration of the marking device and may provide any suitableoutputs. According to one embodiment, the accelerometer may be a 3-axisaccelerometer, providing an indication of the acceleration of themarking device along three orthogonal axes. The output of each axis maybe a frequency (e.g., in Hz) or may be converted to units of g. Forexample, in one embodiment the accelerometer may be a 3-axisaccelerometer that outputs a signal ranging from 0.5 Hz-550 Hz for thez-axis, from 0.5 Hz-1600 Hz for the x-axis, and from 0.5 Hz-1600 Hz forthe y-axis. Again, the accelerometer may alternatively provide an outputin terms of g or any other suitable units. In one exemplaryimplementation, an accelerometer may be an ADXL 330KCPZ-RL accelerometeravailable from Analog Devices of Norwood, Mass. In some exemplaryimplementations, the accelerometer may output acceleration data, whereasin other implementations the accelerometer may output velocity dataalong each of the three axes, as well as the orientation of theaccelerometer.

In addition to providing acceleration data, an accelerometer may beoperated as an inclinometer according to known techniques (see, e.g.,description athttp://www.tilt-china.com/uploadPDF/How_to_use_an_accelerometer_as_an_inclinometer.pdf,viewed on Jan. 27, 2010 and prepared by Shanghai Vigor TechnologyDevelopment Co.). Thus, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, a marking device may include an accelerometer configured tofunction as an inclinometer and therefore provide a measure ofinclination of the marking device.

Furthermore, as explained in greater detail below, the marking device2010 may comprise a plurality of accelerometers located at differentpositions with respect to the marking device. Information from suchaccelerometers may be useful, for example, in assessing the relativemotion of one portion (e.g., the tip) of the marking device with respectto a second portion (e.g., the top) of the marking device, for exampleusing the techniques described in U.S. Patent Application Publication2008/0255795, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. According to one such non-limiting embodiment, oneaccelerometer may be positioned near the tip of the marking device and asecond accelerometer may be positioned near the top of the markingdevice. Both may be 3-axis accelerometers. Such an arrangement may alsobe used to determine the location of the tip of the marking devicerelative to the location of the top of the marking device, as explainedbelow in connection with FIG. 28.

Additionally, the data output by one or both accelerometers may be usedto monitor for out-of-tolerance operation of the marking device, such asimproper manipulation of the marking device by the technician. Forexample, acceleration data from either accelerometer may be indicativeof whether the marking device is being swung, thrown, or dropped, amongother things. For example, acceleration values from either accelerometerabove some threshold value for a sufficient duration (e.g., for onesecond or greater, or any other suitable duration) may be indicative ofthe marking device being thrown or dropped. The threshold value ofacceleration indicative of such behavior may be different for the twoaccelerometers. Similarly, detection of acceleration values deviatingfrom an expected or target pattern may be indicative of misuse of themarking device. In response to detecting such manipulation of themarking device, various actions may be taken, such as generating analert, logging an event, disabling the actuation system of the markingdevice, or any of the actions described further below.

Moreover, a marking device may be provided with two accelerometers tomonitor whether the marking device is being held in a satisfactorymanner during use. For example, it may be preferable for a markingdevice to be maintained at a substantially perpendicular angle relativeto ground as a technician is painting, even when the technician ismoving (e.g., swinging) the marking device. It should be appreciatedthat when operated in a such a manner, the top of the marking device andthe tip of the marking device may exhibit similar accelerationcharacteristics (e.g., peaks in acceleration at the same time (e.g., atthe same points of a swinging motion), minimum values of acceleration atthe same time (e.g., at the same points of a swinging motion), etc.) Bypositioning an accelerometer toward the tip of the marking device andanother toward the top of the marking device, the resulting accelerationdata may be indicative of whether the technician is properlymanipulating the marking device.

Other uses for multiple accelerometers on a marking device are alsopossible, and those examples listed above are non-limiting.

The operational sensors 1920 may further comprise a yaw rate sensor1929, which may be configured to sense the yaw rate (i.e., a twistingmotion) of the marking device. The yaw rate sensor may be any suitableyaw rate sensor and may provide its output in any suitable units, forexample in degrees per second (degrees/sec). One non-limiting example ofa suitable yaw rate sensor is an ADXRS610BBGZ-RL gyro sensor from AnalogDevices of Norwood, Mass. According to another embodiment, a yaw ratemeasurement may be provided by some types of compasses, such that acombination compass and yaw rate sensor may be used. The yaw rate sensormay be positioned at any suitable location on the marking device todetect yaw rate. The information provided by the yaw rate sensor 1929may be stored locally and/or transmitted to an external device such asthe remote computer 150.

The proximity sensor 1930 may be configured to measure the distance fromany point of interest of the marking device 2010 to a point of interestin its surroundings. For example, in one embodiment, the proximitysensor 1930 may be positioned at the tip of the marking device, and maybe oriented to determine the distance between the tip of the markingdevice and any surface upon which marking material is being dispensed bythe marking device (a target surface). Alternatively, in one embodiment,the proximity sensor may be positioned toward the top of the markingdevice and oriented to determine a distance between the top of themarking device and the ground. Other configurations are also possible.

Information about the distance from the marking device to anysurrounding surface may be useful for one of various reasons. Forexample, such information may be useful in assessing whether atechnician is properly operating the marking device. As a non-limitingexample, there may be predetermined acceptable distances between themarking dispenser of the marking device and the surface on which markingmaterial is being dispensed. Some spray paint cans, for example, areprovided with instructions giving recommended distances (e.g., between6-12 inches) between the paint can and the surface to be painted. Theproximity sensor may be used to determine whether the technician ismaintaining the marking device at an acceptable distance from thesurface upon which the marking material is being dispensed.Alternatively, according to another embodiment, and as described ingreater detail below, the distance of a portion of the marking devicefrom the ground may be useful in determining the distance between twopoints of the marking device.

The proximity sensor 1930 may be any suitable type of proximity sensor(e.g., any commercially available proximity sensor), including an analogor digital device. In one embodiment, proximity sensor 1930 may be aSharp GP2D120 short range IR distance sensor from Sharp ElectronicsCorporation (Mahwah, N.J.) and is able to take a substantiallycontinuous distance reading and return a corresponding analog voltagewith a range of about 1.6 inches to about 12 inches. Such a proximitysensor may be suitable, for example, when the sensor is used to sensethe distance from the tip of the marking device to a surface on whichmarking material is being dispensed, since such a distance may typicallybe less than about 12 inches. According to another embodiment, theproximity sensor may be a sonar device. Other types of proximity sensorsmay also be suitably used. The information provided by the proximitysensor 1930 (e.g., a distance value, for example, in centimeters,meters, or feet) may be stored locally and/or transmitted to an externaldevice such as the remote computer 150.

The pressure sensor 1931 may be configured to sense any pressure ofinterest with respect to the marking device. For example, according toone embodiment it may be desirable to detect the pressure applied to ahandle of the marking device, for instance to determine whether atechnician is holding the marking device and, if so, whether it is beingheld appropriately. Accordingly, a pressure sensor may be positioned inthe handle of the marking device in one non-limiting embodiment andconfigured to detect the pressure applied to the handle. According toanother embodiment, it may be desirable to determine the pressureapplied to an actuation system of the marking device, for example if theactuation system is a trigger. Accordingly, a pressure sensor may beconfigured to determine the pressure applied to the trigger or otheractuation mechanism in those embodiments in which the marking deviceincludes such a trigger or actuation mechanism. According to oneembodiment, the marking device may include multiple pressure sensors,for example one for determining the pressure applied to a handle of themarking device and one for determining a pressure applied to anactuation system of the marking device. However, any number of pressuresensors may be included, and they may be configured to sense anypressure of interest with respect to the marking device.

The pressure sensor 1931 may be any suitable type of pressure sensor fordetecting the pressure of interest. The information provided by thepressure sensor 1931, which may be in any suitable units, may be storedlocally and/or transmitted to an external device such as the remotecomputer 150.

The marking device may further include device health monitoringcapability. Characteristics of the health of the marking device whichmay be the subject of monitoring include, but are not limited to,battery life, battery drain level, battery charging capacity, wirelesssignal strength (in those embodiments in which the marking device haswireless capabilities), network connectivity, operating temperature,available memory, and the status of any one or more input devices of themarking device, such as an accelerometer, location tracking system(e.g., GPS receiver), image capture device, light sensor, markingmaterial detection mechanism, etc. To this end, the marking device mayinclude hardware and/or software configured to serve the healthmonitoring purpose.

According to one embodiment, the marking device may include a processor(e.g., processor 118) configured to run a device health software programor application to process the inputs from one or more operationalsensors, such as operational temperature sensor 1922, to assess whetherthose inputs indicate the marking device is operating appropriately.According to another embodiment, the marking device may includededicated device health hardware, such as device health sensor 1932,which may provide data that is processed by a device health softwareprogram (for example, executing on processor 118) to assess the healthof the marking device. Non-limiting examples of device health sensor1932 include a voltmeter and an ammeter, among others.

In one embodiment, data provided by the device health sensor 1932 mayindicate that a low battery condition is present during the markingoperation and, thus, it may be determined that the operations of themarking device are not reliable. Other device conditions, such aswireless signal strength (e.g., in those embodiments in which themarking device 2010 is wirelessly coupled to an external device, such asremote computer 150), available memory, temperature of one or morecomponents of the marking device, power connection of one or morecomponents of the marking device, or other conditions of the markingdevice may be monitored by a device health sensor. Thus, it should beappreciated that a marking device according to the embodiments describedherein may include any suitable number of device health sensors formonitoring a desired number of device conditions.

According to one embodiment, a record or message may be created based onoperation of the device health sensor. For example, a record or messagemay be created including a device ID (e.g., of the marking device) andthe current state of certain device components, such as input devices(e.g., environmental and operational sensors). The record or message mayalso or alternatively include an identification of any resourceutilization that is nearing a specified threshold (e.g., memory nearingcapacity). Thus, it should be appreciated that various conditions may bemonitored under the rubric of monitoring the health of the markingdevice, and various actions taken in response to such monitoring.

The operational sensors 1920 may further comprise the image capturedevice 1828. As previously mentioned, the image capture device 1828 maybe considered an operational sensor, for example, if and when configuredto capture an image relating to the operation of the marking device2010. In one embodiment, the image capture device may be configured tocapture an image of any marking material dispensed by the marking device2010. Such an image may be used to verify that a marking material wasappropriately placed on ground, pavement or other surface in the contextof its surroundings. Images of dispensed marking material such as apaint also may be used to verify that the marking material appropriatelycoated and adhered to a surface on which it was dispensed. Images ofmarking material as it is being dispensed also may be used to ascertainand/or verify some attribute or characteristic of the marking materialitself. Concepts relating to determination of various marking materialattributes using a variety of techniques are discussed in U.S.Non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/429,947, filed Apr. 24, 2009,and entitled “MARKER DETECTION MECHANISMS FOR USE IN MARKING DEVICES ANDMETHODS OF USING SAME,” published as U.S. Patent Publication2010-0006667-A1, which application is hereby incorporated by reference.

Furthermore, the operational sensors 1920 may comprise an audiorecorder, similar to or the same as audio recorder 1830, and thereforeshown as audio recorder 1830 in FIG. 21. For example, the marking devicemay include multiple audio recorders, with one or more operating as anenvironmental sensor (e.g., recording acoustic input from theenvironment) and one or more operating as operational sensors (e.g.,recording acoustic input relating to operation of one or more componentsof the marking device, as described below with respect to the markingdispenser). According to one non-limiting embodiment, an audio recordermay be configured to record audio input corresponding to the soundcreated by dispensing of marking material from the marking dispenser116. For example, in one embodiment, the marking dispenser 116 maycomprise an aerosol paint can and the marking material may be the paint.A sound is often emitted when the aerosol paint can is activated. Thefrequency of that sound may depend on, and therefore be indicative of,what is being dispensed from the paint can. For example, in oneembodiment the paint can may have a fixed resonance frequency withresonance sidebands. The frequency of the resonance sidebands may varydepending on the amount of paint in the paint can, such that theresonance sidebands may move closer (in terms of frequency) to the fixedresonance frequency as the amount of paint in the paint can decreases.Thus, by suitable detection of the resonance sidebands during actuationof the paint can, a determination may be made whether paint is beingdispensed or not. Also, if no paint or propellant is being dispensedfrom the paint can (e.g., when the paint can is empty of both paint andpropellant or if the paint can is not functioning), then no sound may beemitted. A non-limiting example is now given.

According to one embodiment, the frequency amplitude of the soundgenerated by the paint can may be tracked over time to assess an amountof paint in the paint can and/or whether paint is being dispensed. Ifthe amplitude of a particular frequency of interest remains above athreshold value for a threshold duration, it may be determined thatpaint is being dispensed. By contrast, if the amplitude of the frequencyof interest does not remain above the threshold value for the thresholdduration, it may be determined that the paint can is not dispensingpaint, e.g., because the paint can is substantially empty of paint or isnot functioning.

According to one embodiment, a method of determining whether paint isbeing emitted from a marking dispenser may begin by calibrating theaudio recorder to account for background noise, although not allembodiments involve such a calibration routine. A microphone associatedwith the audio recorder is positioned to detect sound emitted when apaint can, serving as the marking dispenser 116 in this non-limitingembodiment, is activated. Thus, according to one embodiment, themicrophone may be positioned proximate the tip of the marking device, anexample of which is shown later in FIG. 23 (which illustrates amicrophone near the tip 2302 of the marking device 2100). The analogsignal from the microphone may be digitized by sampling at 20 kHz or anyother suitable sampling rate. The digital data may then be low-passfiltered, for example by a processor (e.g., processor 2118, describedbelow). According to one embodiment, the low-pass filter has a passbandat approximately 3.3 kHz, although any suitable passband may be used.The data from the low-pass filter may then be squared in value, whichremoves any negative values. The resulting data may then be low-passfiltered, for example using the same processor which performed the firstlow-pass filtering function, or any other suitable hardware and/orsoftware. This second low-pass filtering step may have a passband atapproximately 50 Hz, although any suitable passband may be used.

The amplitude of the signal output by the second low-pass filtering stepmay then be compared against a threshold amplitude selected to beindicative of the amount of paint in the paint can and/or beingdispensed. If the amplitude exceeds the threshold amplitude for asufficient duration (e.g., 50 milliseconds, 25 milliseconds, or anyother suitable duration), then the data suggests that the paint cancontains paint, since such a result may occur when the resonancefrequency sidebands of the paint can are sufficiently far from the fixedresonance frequency. By contrast, if the amplitude does not exceed thethreshold amplitude for the threshold duration, then the data suggeststhat the paint can contains little or no paint. The threshold amplitudemay be selected based on characteristics of the subject paint can, amongother things.

It should be appreciated that other methods of processing the audioinput are also possible, as this is only one example. In addition, otheruses of the audio recorder information (i.e., other than determining ifmarking material has been dispensed) are possible. Furthermore, itshould be appreciated that the audio input may also be stored by theaudio recorder.

As previously described, the audio recorder may be any suitable audiorecorder, including a digital audio recorder or analog audio recorder,for example of any of the types previously described. In one embodiment,the audio recorder may comprise a dedicated PIC processor, as describedfurther below with respect to FIG. 22. In those embodiments in which themarking device includes two or more audio recorders (e.g., one operatingas an environmental sensor and another operating as an operationalsensor), the audio recorders may share any suitable combination ofcircuitry. For example, multiple audio recorders may share a samedigital signal processor (e.g., a dedicated audio signal processor). Aseparate microphone may be associated with each audio recorder, or amicrophone may be shared between two or more audio recorders. Thus, itshould be appreciated that the exact configuration and components ofaudio recorders according to the various embodiments described hereinare not limiting.

The audio files produced by an audio recorder operating as anoperational sensor may be stored locally in dedicated audio memory, inlocal memory 122 and/or transmitted to an external device, such as theremote computer 150.

In any of the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 19, any one or more of theenvironmental sensors 1820 illustrated in FIG. 20 and/or operationalsensors 1920 illustrated in FIG. 21 may be operated in any suitablemanner, including continuously, periodically, and/or in response to anevent or trigger (e.g., one or more actuations of the marking device),or in any other suitable manner. For example, one or more of theenvironmental sensors 1820 and/or operational sensors 1920 may operatecontinuously during performance of a marking operation. In particular,the ambient temperature sensor may output a substantially continuousdata stream indicative of the sensed ambient temperature. Similarly, thesurface temperature sensor, humidity sensor, light sensor, and altitudesensor may output substantially continuous data streams indicative ofthe respective sensed conditions. The inclinometer, compass,accelerometer, yaw rate sensor, proximity sensor, pressure sensor, anddevice health sensor may also output substantially continuous datastreams indicative of the sensed operation. The image capture device1828 may record a video sequence continuously during the markingoperation, and the audio recorder 1830 may continuously record any audioinput during performance of the marking operation.

Alternatively, one or more of the environmental sensors 1820 and/oroperational sensors 1920 may be operated and/or polled periodically,with the resulting output data being logged and/or transmittedperiodically. For example, the ambient temperature sensor may provide anoutput signal indicative of the sensed ambient temperature every second,every five seconds, every ten seconds, every minute, every ten minutes,or at any other suitable time interval. Similarly, the surfacetemperature sensor, humidity sensor, light sensor, altitude sensor,operational temperature sensor(s), inclinometer, compass,accelerometer(s), yaw rate sensor, proximity sensor, pressure sensor,and device health sensor(s) may output data at periodic intervals. Theimage capture device may capture a still image or a video sequence ofany desired duration at periodic intervals. The audio recorder maycapture audio of any desired duration at periodic intervals. It shouldbe appreciated that in some embodiments one or more of the environmentalsensors 1820 and/or operational sensors 1920 may themselves operate soas to provide output information in an essentially continuous fashion,but only be read or polled (e.g., by processor 118) on some discrete orperiodic basis. Accordingly, output signals or data provided by one ormore sensors may be acquired, logged into local memory, and/ortransmitted to an external device in any of a variety of manners.

According to another embodiment, one or more of the environmentalsensors 1820 and/or operational sensors 1920 may operate, be readdiscretely, and/or be polled, and therefore the corresponding data maybe logged and/or transmitted, in response to actuation of the actuationsystem 120 of the marking device. For example, actuation of theactuation system 120 may trigger dispensing of marking material andsimultaneously may trigger recording of a sensed ambient temperaturefrom ambient temperature sensor 1822 in the local memory 122. Theremaining environmental sensors 1820 and/or operational sensors 1920 maybe operated, read and/or polled in a similar manner.

In one embodiment, one or more of the environmental sensors 1820 and/oroperational sensors 1920 may be activated, read discretely, and/orpolled by the technician irrespective of whether the actuation system120 is actuated. For example, the technician may activate, read, and/orpoll one or more of the environmental sensors by depressing a selectionbutton corresponding to the environmental sensor(s), by choosing aselection button or menu option from a user interface of the markingdevice (in those embodiments in which the marking device includes a userinterface), or in any other suitable manner. The operational sensors mayoperate similarly.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the operation of sensors, andreading and/or logging and/or transmitting of data from theenvironmental sensors 1820 and operational sensors 1920, is not limitedto any particular manner or time, but rather that various suitableschemes are contemplated. Also, it should be appreciated that in thoseembodiments in which a marking device comprises multiple sensors, thesensors need not operate in the same manner as each other. For example,one or more of the sensors may operate periodically while one or moremay only provide their data output in response to actuation of themarking device actuation system. In one embodiment, a plurality of thesensors may provide their data outputs periodically, but at differentrates. Other operating schemes are also possible.

FIG. 22 illustrates a functional block diagram of a marking device 2100including both environmental and operational sensors, according toanother non-limiting embodiment. FIG. 23 illustrates a correspondingstructural representation of the marking device 2100. The marking device2100 is in significant respects functionally similar to the markingdevice 2010 described above in connection with FIGS. 18-20. However,specific implementation details, such as disposition and distribution ofvarious components of the marking device, may differ in some respects;accordingly, unique reference characters are used in the description ofFIGS. 22 and 23, although some of the components described in connectionwith these figures may be substantially similar or identical tocomponents already described above. In some instances, a componentdescribed in previous embodiments as a single element (e.g., theprocessor 118) may include multiple components (multiple processors) inthe embodiment of FIGS. 22 and 23, which together perform substantiallythe same general functionality as already described above (e.g., but ina distributed fashion).

With reference to FIG. 22, the marking device 2100 includes controlelectronics, environmental sensors, operational sensors, as well as someadditional components. The control electronics include a processor 2102,which in this non-limiting example is an Atom™ processor available fromIntel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. The processor 2102 is on aprocessor board 2101 that also includes a temperature sensor 2103configured to monitor the processor temperature. In this manner, theprocessor temperature may be monitored for overheating or other adversetemperature conditions. The control electronics further comprise abattery 2104, which provides power to the various components of themarking device 2100.

Several of the components of the marking device 2100 are connecteddirectly to the processor 2102. For example, a compass 2106 is connectedto and provides its output directly to the processor 2102. Similarly, alocation tracking system 2108 (e.g., a GPS receiver, such as theISM300F1-C3 GPS module from Inventek Systems of Billerica, Mass.) isdirectly coupled to the processor 2102 to provide its output to theprocessor. Additionally, the marking device 2100 comprises Wi-Ficapability, provided by communications interface 124 in the form of aWi-Fi module 2110 having a Wi-Fi antenna 2112. The Wi-Fi module iscoupled directly to the processor 2102 via a USB connection, in thisnon-limiting example.

The marking device 2100 further comprises a sensor board 2114, which isconnected to several sensors, itself includes several sensors, and iscoupled to the processor 2102 to provide various data to the processor2102 and receive control signals from the processor 2102. The sensorboard 2114 comprises two processors, labeled as 2116 and 2118. Theprocessor 2116, which is a PIC 24 processor in this non-limiting example(for example, PIC24FJ256GA106-I/PT from Microchip Technology Inc. ofChandler, Ariz.), may be configured to receive data from various of thesensors of the marking device 2100, and to communicate with theprocessor 2102. The processor 2118 may be a dedicated digital signalaudio processor, and may be, for example a PIC 30 processor, such asDSPIC30F301230ISO-ND from Microchip Technology Inc. of Chandler, Ariz.Processor 2118 may receive audio input from a microphone, and mayprocess the audio input and provide it to the processor 2102. The sensorboard 2114 further comprises a temperature sensor 2120, configured tomonitor the temperature of the sensor board to determine whether any ofthe components of the sensor board are overheating. The sensor board2114 further comprises an accelerometer 2122, which is a 3-accessaccelerometer in this non-limiting embodiment, as well as memory 2123,which in this non-limiting example is EEPROM.

As shown, various sensors and other components of the marking device2100 are electrically coupled to the sensor board 2114, for example toprovide their outputs to the processor 2116. For example, the markingdevice 2100 comprises a joystick and user interface buttons 2124, whichprovide their outputs to the processor 2116. A technician using themarking device may use the joystick and buttons 2124 (for example,joystick SKQUCAA010 from Alps Electric Co., Ltd. and pushbutton moduleTL11078F180WQ from E-Switch, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn.) to interactwith the marking device, for example to navigate menus presented on thedisplay 2126 of the marking device and to make user-selected entries.The marking device may further comprise a board 2128 having on it atemperature sensor 2130, a humidity sensor 2132, and a light sensor2134. The temperature sensor 2130 may be configured to detect the airtemperature outside of the marking device. The humidity sensor 2132 maybe configured to detect the humidity of the environment in which themarking device is located. The light sensor 2134 may be configured todetect the light intensity, light flux, or illuminance of theenvironment in which the marking device is being used. Each of thosethree sensors may be connected to the sensor board 2114 and providetheir output signals to the processor 2116.

Furthermore, the marking device 2100 may comprise various additionalsensors, which, as discussed below with respect to FIG. 23, may belocated in the tip of the marking device. These include a paint candetection switch 2148, a 3-axis accelerometer 2150, a yaw rate sensor2152, the previously described microphone 2154, and an RFID module(e.g., an RFID read/write module) 2156. The outputs of these sensors mayalso be provided to the processor 2116 on the sensor board 2114. Inaddition, the marking device may comprise another PIC processor 2158,such as a PIC 18 processor, configured to digitize the output signals ofthe 3-axis accelerometer and the yaw rate detector located in the tip ofthe marking device prior to providing those outputs to processor 2116.

The marking device also includes a trigger 2144 for actuating themarking device. The trigger may be coupled to the sensor board 2114, andin particular to the processor 2116 in this non-limiting example.Additionally, a mode selection switch may be associated with thetrigger, such that the processor 2116 may detect not only when thetrigger is actuated, but also what mode is involved. Examples ofsuitable modes include paint mode, in which actuation of the triggercauses the dispensing of a marking material, such as paint, and landmarkmode, in which actuation of the trigger may not result in dispensing ofmarking material, but may result in data collection. Other modes arealso possible, as these examples are non-limiting.

In addition, as shown, the marking device 2100 may further comprise aspeaker 2138, which may be used to provide audio output to thetechnician using the marking device. To facilitate this functionality,the marking device may further comprise an audio board 2140 coupledbetween the processor 2102 and the sensor board 2114. The audio boardmay receive digital signals from the processor 2102 and convert them toanalog signals, which may be provided to the sensor board 2114 to drivethe speaker 2138.

Also, as mentioned, the marking device 2100 comprises a display 2126,which may be connected to the sensor board, and which in someembodiments may be mounted directly to the sensor board 2114.

Although not shown in FIG. 22, various forms of memory may be providedwith the marking device 2100. For example, the processor 2102 mayinclude RAM as well as a flash memory, or any other suitable types ofmemory. Data output from any of the sensors or components of the markingdevice 2100 may be stored in the memory of the processor 2102. Each ofthe processors 2116 and 2118 may include internal flash memory as wellas RAM.

To provide electrical isolation between various components of themarking device, for example to prevent electrical cross-talk orinterference, one or more electrical shields may be included. In theillustrated embodiment, a shield 2136 may be provided to electricallyshield the compass 2106 from the location tracking system (e.g., GPSreceiver) 2108 and from the processor 2102, as well as to shield thelocation tracking system 2108 from the processor 2102. According to oneembodiment, the compass may be shielded by a metallic enclosure (e.g., acopper box), which may provide shielding from interference caused byother components of the marking device as well as shielding from theenvironment.

As shown, the marking device also comprises a docking interface 2146 tofacilitate docking the marking device to a docking station. The dockingstation may be a device configured to receive the marking device whenthe marking device is not in use to perform a marking operation, and maybe, for example, any of the types of docking stations described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/571,411, filed on Sep. 30, 2009 underAttorney Docket No. D0687.70009US01 and titled “Marking Device DockingStations and Methods of Using Same,” which is hereby incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety. According to one embodiment, the markingdevice may make both electrical and mechanical connection to the dockingstation when docked, such that the docking interface may be configuredto provide both electrical and mechanical connection. While docked, themarking device battery may be charged and/or the marking device mayexchange information with the docking station. For example, the markingdevice may transfer any collected marking data to the docking station.Other functions may also be performed by the docking station, asdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/571,411.

Docking events (e.g., docking and de-docking of a marking device) may berecorded as event entries, for example similar in form to the evententries of Tables 2-5. Table 14A illustrates an example of event entryindicating a change in docking status of a marking device. Other entryformats are also possible.

TABLE 14A Format INFO+DOCK: (DATE) (TIME) (GPS data) (DOCKING STATE)<CR><LF> Examples INFO+ DOCK R: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:44)GPS($GPGGA, 120443, 4807.038, N, 01131.000, E, 1, 08, 0.9, 545.4, M,46.9, M,, *47) DOCK(DOCKED)<CR><LF> INFO+ DOCK: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(12:04:45) GPS($GPGGA, 120445, 4807.038, N, 01131.000, E, 1, 08,0.9, 545.4, M, 46.9, M,, *47) DOCK(DE-DOCKED)<CR><LF> INFO+ DOCK:DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:46) GPS($GPGGA, 120446, 4807.038, N,01131.000, E, 1, 08, 0.9, 545.4, M, 46.9, M,, *47) DOCK(DOCKED)<CR><LF>

In general, the components of marking device 2100 may operate in any ofthe manners previously described with respect to marking devices,environmental sensors, and operational sensors. However, in onenon-limiting embodiment, the various sensors of marking device 2100 mayoperate at different rates. As an example, the accelerometers and yawrate sensor of the marking device may output their data at relativelyhigh frequencies, such as in the kHz range, MHz range, or higher. Thetemperature sensors, humidity sensor, and light sensor may output theirdata at relatively lower frequencies, such as approximately 1 Hz, forexample because those quantities may not change as rapidly as thequantities measured by the accelerometers and the yaw rate sensor. Thejoystick and buttons 2124 may output their data at an intermediatefrequency, for example 10 Hz. Lastly, the RFID sensor of RFID module2156 may output its data only when the paint can detection switch 2148changes state, corresponding to insertion or removal of a paint can. Inthis manner, power may be conserved by operating the RFID sensor onlywhen needed.

According to one embodiment, the output data from the sensors is onlyread and stored upon actuation of the trigger 2144, even though thesensors may update their outputs at the above-indicated frequencies.Upon such actuation, data from any one or more of the sensors may beread out and stored in the memory of processor 2102. The stored data maytherefore represent the values present at the sensors at the time ofactuation. In this manner, data values output by the sensors when thetrigger is not actuated may not be stored in some instances, but rathermay be updated by the subsequent data value from the sensor. In thismanner, only the most recent data from the sensors may be stored uponactuation.

FIG. 23 illustrates one non-limiting example of a physicalimplementation of the marking device 2100 of FIG. 22, utilizing the samereference numbers as used in FIG. 22. Not all of the components areshown in FIG. 23.

As shown, the accelerometer 2150 and a yaw rate sensor 2152 are locatedtoward the tip 2302 of the marking device 2100 on a first circuit board.Processor 2158 (for example, a PIC 18 processor, such as aPIC18F2431-I/SO from Microchip Technology Inc. of Chandler, Ariz.), isdisposed on a second circuit board coupled to the circuit boardincluding the accelerometer and the yaw rate sensor, and is configuredto receive the outputs from the accelerometer and yaw rate sensor,digitize them, and send them to the sensor board 2114. The can detectionswitch 2148 is included to detect insertion and removal of paint can2208 from the marking device. The microphone 2154 is configured todetect sound emitted when paint is dispensed from the paint can 2208 andprovides its output to processor 2118, shown in FIG. 22. The RFID board2212 is oriented vertically within the figure and includes the RFIDmodule 2156, which may include an RFID reader configured to read an RFIDtag on the paint can 2208 or on the lid of the paint can 2208, forexample to determine product information relating to the paint can 2208.

It should be appreciated that other electrical and physicalconfigurations of a marking device including one or more environmentaland/or operational sensors are possible, and that FIGS. 22 and 23illustrate one non-limiting example.

As mentioned previously, environmental information and/or operationalinformation output by any one or more environmental sensors andoperational sensors of the marking device (e.g., of the environmentalsensors 1820 and/or operational sensors 1920) may be used for one ormore of various purposes, some of which have been previously described.Examples of such purposes include assessing whether a marking operationwas or is being performed within environmental and/or operationaltolerances, interacting with the technician and/or controlling/alteringoperation of the marking device, and augmenting data records/files.

To this end, the various environmental information and/or operationalinformation provided by various sensors may be organized and handled asdata in various formats, and in some implementations may be organized interms of events and corresponding event entries formatted according to aparticular protocol, for example as discussed above in connection withTables 2 through 5. Event entries similar to these and including variousenvironmental and/or operational information may be generated by themarking device at some point once information has been read/acquiredfrom environmental and/or operational sensors, the event entriesthemselves (or any information contained therein) may be logged in afile for an electronic record, and/or the event entries themselves (orany information contained therein) may be transmitted by the markingdevice (e.g., to remote computer 150).

In some implementations, environmental information and/or operationalinformation may be contained within one or more event entriescorresponding to an actuation of the marking device, such that theenvironmental information and/or the operational information is part ofan actuation data set. Table 15 below illustrates a modification of anevent entry originally depicted in Table 3 above, in which environmentalinformation and operational information is included as part of the dataformatted in an actuation state change event entry, according to oneexample. The information for acceleration may include three values foreach axis of each accelerometer. One value for a particular axis may bea raw value, the second value for a particular axis may be a high-passfiltered value, and the third value may be a low-pass filtered value.Data values are only shown for one of the two accelerometers listed. Asin Table 3, for purposes of this event format, the actuator is deemed tohave three possible states, i.e., PRESSED, HELD and RELEASED. Markinginformation from one or more input devices/other components of themarking device is recorded with these events to provide informationabout the job in progress.

TABLE 15 Format INFO+ WPTR: (DATE) (TIME) (GPS data) (PAINT info)(TRIGGER SWITCH STATE) (AMB TEMP info) (SURF TEMP info) (HUM info)(LIGHT info) (ALTITUDE info) (IMAGE info) (AUDIO info) (OP TEMP info)(COMPASS info) (INCL info) (ACC1 info) (ACC2 info) (YAW info) (PROXinfo) (DH1 info) (DH2 info) <CR><LF> Examples INFO+WPTR:DATE(2008-12-07) TIME(09:35:15) GPS($GPGGA, 120443, 4807.038, N,01131.000, E, 1, 08, 0.9, 545.4, M, 46.9, M,, *47) CLR(RED)SWCH(PRESSED) AMB TEMP(73F) SURF TEMP(78F) HUM(31) LIGHT(1500) ALT (200)IMAGE(Y) AUDIO(Y) OP TEMP(97F) COMPASS(243) INCL(−40) ACC1_x_raw(.285)ACC1_x_high(.280) ACC1_x_low(.275) ACC1_y_raw(.385) ACC1_y_high(.382)ACC1_y_low(.380) ACC1_z_raw(.155) ACC1_z_high(.150) ACC1_z_low(.145)(ACC2(!) YAW(!) PROX(15) DH1(67) DH2(!)<CR><LF> INFO+WPTR:DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:45) GPS($GPGGA, 120445, 4807.038, N,01131.000, E, 1, 08, 0.9, 545.4, M, 46.9, M,, *47) CLR(RED) SWCH(HELD)AMB TEMP(73F) SURF TEMP(78F) HUM(31) LIGHT(1500) ALT(203) IMAGE(Y)AUDIO(Y) OP TEMP(97F) COMPASS(243) INCL(−40) ACC1_x_raw(.285)ACC1_x_high(.280) ACC1_x_low(.275) ACC1_y_raw(.385) ACC1_y_high(.382)ACC1_y_low(.380) ACC1_z_raw(.155) ACC1_z_high(.150) ACC1_z_low(.145)ACC2(!) YAW(!) PROX(15) DH1(67) DH2(!)<CR><LF> INFO+WPTR:DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:46) GPS($GPGGA, 120446, 4807.038, N,01131.000, E, 1, 08, 0.9, 545.4, M, 46.9, M,, *47) CLR(RED)SWCH(RELEASED) AMB TEMP(73F) SURF TEMP(78F) HUM(31) LIGHT(1500) ALT(201)IMAGE(Y) AUDIO(Y) OP TEMP(97F) COMPASS(243) INCL(−40) ACC1_x_raw(.285)ACC1_x_high(.280) ACC1_x_low(.275) ACC1_y_raw(.385) ACC1_y_high(.382)ACC1_y_low(.380) ACC1_z_raw(.155) ACC1_z_high(.150) ACC1_z_low(.145)ACC2(!) YAW(!) PROX(15) DH1(67) DH2(!)<CR><LF>

The contents of an information field for a particular piece ofenvironmental information and/or operational information in an evententry may have any of a number of forms; for example, the content may bestrictly numeric (e.g., according to some predetermined scale/units ofmeasure for the numeric information), alphanumeric (e.g., 78F), text(e.g., YES), symbolic (e.g., Y or N to indicate “yes” or “no,” or someother symbol to provide an indication, such as ! to indicate sensorfailure or no sensor information available), or referential in nature(e.g., a filename, pointer or other link to provide an indication ofwhere relevant information relating to the particular environmentaland/or operational condition may be found).

In other implementations, one or both of environmental informationand/or operational information may be formatted in one or moreparticular event entries generated specifically to provide suchinformation, in a manner that is not necessarily related to actuation ofthe marking device. For example, such “sensor read events” may begenerated as the result of the processor reading one or moreenvironmental and/or operational sensors one or more times while a jobis in progress (e.g., on a periodic basis pursuant to processor polls).Table 16 below provides an example of such a sensor read event entry.

TABLE 16 Format INFO+SENSOR: (DATE) (TIME) (AMB TEMP info) (SURF TEMPinfo) (HUM info) (LIGHT info) (ALTITUDE info) (IMAGE info) (AUDIO info)(OP TEMP info) (COMPASS info) (INCL info) (ACC1 info) (ACC2 info) (YAWinfo) (PROX info) (DH1 info) (DH2 info) <CR><LF> Examples INFO+SENSOR:DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:45) AMB TEMP(73F) SURF TEMP(78F) HUM(31)LIGHT(1500) ALT(200) IMAGE(Y) AUDIO(Y) OP TEMP(97F) COMPASS(243)INCL(−40) ACC1(.285) ACC2(!) YAW(!) PROX(15) DH1(67) DH2(!)<CR><LF>

With respect to file formats for electronic records including evententries or information derived therefrom, as discussed above any numberof file formats may be employed (e.g., ASCII, XML).

FIG. 24 illustrates an electronic record 2835, similar to the electronicrecord 135 previously described in connection with FIGS. 10 and 13,which may be generated by a marking device 2010 or 2100, stored in localmemory 122 of the marking device, and/or transmitted in whole or part bythe marking device, according to one embodiment. Some or all of theinformation provided in the electronic record 2835 may be derived froman event entry generated by the marking device (e.g., an event entry isgenerated and then parsed to provide information in various fields of anelectronic record), or the information contained in the electronicrecord 2835 may be provided in another manner pursuant to the conceptsdisclosed herein (e.g., sensor information may be acquired directly fromone or more sensors, and acquired information may be stored in theelectronic record without necessarily generating an event entry). Inaddition to the information elements shown previously in FIGS. 10 and13, the electronic record 2835 may further include one or both ofenvironmental information 2602 and operational information 2702. Whileboth types of information are shown for simplicity in FIG. 24, it shouldbe appreciated that an electronic record according to variousembodiments need not include both environmental information andoperational information.

The exemplary electronic record 2835 shown in FIG. 24 may be used toevaluate performance of a marking operation, for example, by reviewinginformation in the actuation data set 702C, the ticket information 714,service-related information 716, the environmental information 2602and/or the operational information 2702. It should be appreciated thatthe electronic record 2835 includes some information that assumes thatthe marking device 2010 or 2100 includes the timing system 128 and thelocation tracking system 130, such as the timing and locationinformation shown in the electronic record.

Table 17 provides an example of a data record that may be generated bymarking device 2010 or marking device 2100 upon actuation of theactuation system. Each shown “act” corresponds to a separate actuation.As shown, the data record may include information about the serviceprovider identification, the user (technician) identification, themarking device identification, a timestamp (for example, provided by atiming system such as timing system 128), product data for the markingmaterial being dispensed, locate request data, and information relatingto the environmental sensors 1820. This example is provided for purposesof illustration, and is not limiting, as many different forms of datarecords may be generated based on the operation of the marking devices2010 and 2100.

TABLE 17 Example record of data acquired by marking device 2010 or 2100upon actuation Record Service provider ID 0482 # act-1 User ID 4815Device ID 7362 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:15.2 Product data Color= Red, Brand = ABC Locate request data Requestor: XYZ ConstructionCompany, Requested service address: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL Ambienttemperature 75 (° F.) Surface temperature 80 (° F.) Humidity (%) 85Illuminance (lux) 15000 Altitude (meters) 200 Image captured (Y/N) YAudio captured (Y/N) N Record Service provider ID 0482 # act-2 User ID4815 Device ID 7362 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:17.5 Product dataColor = Red, Brand = ABC Locate request data Requestor: XYZ ConstructionCompany, Requested service address: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL Ambienttemperature 75 (° F.) Surface temperature 80 (° F.) Humidity (%) 85Illuminance (lux) 15500 Altitude (meters) 200 Image captured (Y/N) NAudio captured (Y/N) N Record Service provider ID 0482 # act-3 User ID4815 Device ID 7362 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:18.7 Product dataColor = Red, Brand = ABC Locate request data Requestor: XYZ ConstructionCompany, Requested service address: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL Ambienttemperature 74 (° F.) Surface temperature 81 (° F.) Humidity (%) 86Illuminance (lux) 15000 Altitude (meters) 200 Image captured (Y/N) YAudio captured (Y/N) Y

In a manner similar to Table 17, Table 18 provides another example of adata record that may be generated by marking device 2010 or 2100 uponactuation of the actuation system. Each shown “act” corresponds to aseparate actuation. As shown, the data record may include informationabout the service provider identification, the user (technician)identification, the device identification, a timestamp (for example,provided by a timing system such as timing system 128), product data forthe marking material being dispensed, locate request data, andinformation relating to the operational sensors 1920. The locationtracking system 130 provides the geo-location data. The temperaturesensor(s) 1922 provides the temperature data. The compass 1924 providesthe heading. The inclinometer 1926 provides the inclination. Theaccelerometer(s) 1928 provides the acceleration, which in thisembodiment is a three-axis accelerometer. The yaw rate sensor 1929provides the yaw rate. The proximity sensor 1930 provides the distance,which may represent the distance from the tip of the marking device tothe ground, in one non-limiting embodiment. The pressure sensor 1931provides the pressure measurement. This example is provided for purposesof illustration, and is not limiting, as many different forms of datarecords may be generated based on the operation of the marking device2010 or 2100.

TABLE 18 Example record of data acquired by marking device 2010 or 2100upon actuation Record Service provider ID 0482 # act-1 User ID 4815Device ID 7362 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:15.2 Geo-location data2650.9256, N, 08003.5234, W Product data Color = Red, Brand = ABC Locaterequest data Requestor: XYZ Construction Company, Requested serviceaddress: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL Temperature (° F.) 75 Heading(degrees) 243 Inclination (degrees) 25 Acceleration (g) (x-axis) 0.75Acceleration (g) (y-axis) 1.75 Acceleration (g) (z-axis) 0.85 Yaw rate(degrees/sec) 10 Distance (cm) 15 Pressure (psi) 45 Image captured (Y/N)Y Audio captured (Y/N) N Record Service provider ID 0482 # act-2 User ID4815 Device ID 7362 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:17.5 Geo-locationdata 2650.9273, N, 08003.5236, W Product data Color = Red, Brand = ABCLocate request data Requestor: XYZ Construction Company, Requestedservice address: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL Temperature (° F.) 75 Heading(degrees) 243 Inclination (degrees) 26 Acceleration (g) (x-axis) 0.80Acceleration (g) (y-axis) 0.75 Acceleration (g) (z-axis) 0.95 Yaw rate(degrees/sec) 12 Distance (cm) 14 Pressure (psi) 47 Image captured (Y/N)N Audio captured (Y/N) N Record Service provider ID 0482 # act-3 User ID4815 Device ID 7362 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:18.7 Geo-locationdata 2650.9276, N, 08003.5239, W Product data Color = Red, Brand = ABCLocate request data Requestor: XYZ Construction Company, Requestedservice address: 222 Main St, Orlando, FL Temperature (° F.) 74 Heading(degrees) 245 Inclination (degrees) 26 Acceleration (g) (x-axis) 0.75Acceleration (g) (y-axis) 1.40 Acceleration (g) (z-axis) 1.15 Yaw rate(degrees/sec) 12 Distance (cm) 12 Pressure (psi) 44 Image captured (Y/N)Y Audio captured (Y/N) Y

While Tables 17 and 18 respectively indicate the collection ofenvironmental information and operational information separately, and aspart of an actuation data set, it should be appreciated that variousembodiments of the present invention are not limited in this respect. Inparticular, both environmental information and operational informationmay be collected together as part of a given actuation data set.Furthermore, the inclusion of one or both of environmental informationand operational information in an electronic record such as the record2835 need not be limited to one or more particular actuations data sets;rather, in some exemplary implementations, one or both of environmentalinformation and operational information may be included as a uniquecomponent of an electronic record apart from any particular actuationdata set (e.g., one or both of environmental and operational informationmay be common to, or “shared by,” one or more actuation data sets).

VIII. ASSESSING OPERATION AND/OR USE OF A MARKING DEVICE

Environmental information and/or operational information, as well as anyof the other constituent components of marking information and landmarkinformation discussed herein, may be used to assess whether a markingdevice is being used and/or a marking operation was or is beingperformed in accordance with recommended practices or within recommendedenvironmental or operational conditions.

As an illustrative example, there may be certain preferred environmentalconditions in which a marking device may be used and/or a markingoperation may be performed, particularly with respect to storage,handling and dispensing of the marking material. In particular, themarking material manufacturer may specify an ideal temperature, amaximum temperature, a minimum temperature, an ideal humidity, a maximumhumidity, and the like, for the use of their product. Accordingly, theuse of the marking material above the maximum temperature specification,below the minimum temperature specification, and/or above the maximumhumidity specification may yield undesirable results, such as an unevenspray, poor adhesion to the surface on which it is sprayed, and/or poordurability. This may result in marginally or poorly performed markingoperations, which may have an adverse impact on customer satisfactionand an increased risk of damage to facilities.

Additionally, there may be certain preferred process tolerances withrespect to performing marking operations. For example, there may be aminimum ambient light specification, a certain angle of sprayspecification with respect to dispensing of marking material, a certaindistance specification (i.e., distance from target surface) with respectto dispensing of marking material, a certain motion specification withrespect to sweeping the marking device, and the like. Violations ofthese process tolerances may result in poorly performed markingoperations, which may result in poor customer satisfaction and anincreased risk of damage to facilities.

Other environmental and operational tolerances may also be applicable tomarking operations, and it should be appreciated that those listed aboveare non-limiting examples provided for purposes of illustration.

In view of the foregoing, according to another aspect of the presentinvention, a marking device, or a locate operations system comprising amarking device, may include an operations monitoring application thatoperates in combination with the marking device or that is installedfully or in part on the marking device. In exemplary implementationsdiscussed below, an operations monitoring application may provide fordetecting and monitoring the use of locating equipment such as themarking devices described herein for out-of-tolerance environmental oroperational conditions. For example, with respect to marking materialthat is dispensed during marking operations, the operations monitoringapplication of the present disclosure may provide for detecting andmonitoring the use of the marking material within the limits of itsproduct specifications with respect to, for example, the ambienttemperature and humidity. Additionally or alternatively, monitoring maybe based on certain standard operating procedures (e.g., as establishedby a facility owner, a locate contractor, a regulatory body, etc.).Other bases for monitoring the operation of a marking device may also beused.

According to one aspect of this embodiment, once an out-of-tolerancecondition is detected, either environmental or operational, anout-of-tolerance alert or notification may be provided to the user(technician) of the marking device. In some exemplary implementations,the out-of-tolerance alert may be generated by the control electronicsof the marking device, although not all implementations are limited inthis respect. Additionally or alternatively, a record of suchout-of-tolerance alerts may be stored, such as a record of alertacknowledgments that may be stored or transmitted by the marking devicein response to technician acknowledgement of the alert.

An example of an operations monitoring application is now described. Forpurposes of illustration, the operations monitoring application isdescribed in connection with marking device 2010 discussed above inconnection with FIG. 19. However, it should be appreciated that theoperations monitoring application may be used in connection with othermarking devices described herein.

Referring to FIG. 25, a functional block diagram of an example of anoperations monitoring application 2300 for detecting and monitoring theuse of a marking device (e.g., marking device 2010 in this non-limitingexample) for out-of-tolerance conditions is presented. Operationsmonitoring application 2300 may include an operations algorithm 2310,which is a software algorithm for determining whether out-of-toleranceenvironmental and/or operational conditions are present during locateoperations and/or whether violations of certain process operationaltolerances occur.

To make determinations of out-of-tolerance conditions/occurrences,operations algorithm 2310 may compare information supplied at anexpected data input 2312 to information supplied at an actual data input2314. For example, an operating limits table 2316 may provide the sourceof information feeding expected data input 2312. An example of thecontents of operating limits table 2316 is shown in Table 19 below. Itshould be appreciated that such a table may include entries for any oneor more conditions sensed by a sensor of the marking device, and thatthose entries shown are non-limiting examples.

TABLE 19 Example contents of operating limits table 2316 Quantity ValueMaximum ambient temperature 100 degrees F. Minimum ambient temperature 0degrees F. Maximum surface temperature 150 degrees F. Minimum surfacetemperature 40 degrees F. Maximum ambient humidity 90% Minimum ambientlight level 2.0 volts Minimum spray angle −60 degrees Maximum sprayangle 60 degrees Minimum spray distance 3 inches Maximum spray distance6 inches Maximum motion rate 1.5 g Maximum yaw rate 30 degrees/secondMinimum battery strength 15% Maximum altitude 1500 meters Differencebetween actual vs. expected geo- 0.2 miles from location location onticket Combination: Maximum spray distance when 4 inches ambienthumidity is ≧95% Combination: Maximum spray distance when 5 inchesambient temperature is ≦32 degrees F.

The contents of operating limits table 2316 may be informed by standardoperating procedures (SOP) information 2317. In this respect, thecontents of operating limits table 2316 may have a dynamic component.That is, in the event that the content of SOP information 2317 ismodified and/or that the content of SOP information 2317 varies, forexample from one geographic location to another or from one job/worksite to another, the content of operating limits table 2316 mayautomatically vary accordingly. SOP information 2317 may includeinformation, such as, but not limited to, state, local, and/or regionalregulations with respect to underground facility locate and markingoperations; locate service provider policy information; contractualinformation; and the like. Further, SOP information 2317 may includeinformation about the current industry-accepted best practices and/orprocedures with respect to underground facility locate and markingoperations.

One source of information that may be included in SOP information 2317may be, for example, the information of the Best Practices Version 6.0document, published in February 2009 by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA)of Alexandria, Va. (www.commongroundalliance.com) incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. The Best Practices Version 6.0 document is acompilation of the current best practices that are performed withrespect to preventing damage to underground facilities. Another sourceof information that may be included in SOP information 2317 may be, forexample, the information of the Recommended Marking Guidelines ForUnderground Utilities as endorsed by the National Utility LocatingContractors Association (NULCA) of North Kansas City, Mo., which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Generally, the contents of operating limits table 2316 may be variableand dynamic based on one or more factors, such as, but not limited to,dynamic information that may be included in SOP information 2317, bestpractices that may vary with time of year, best practices that may varywith time of day, best practices that may vary with weather conditions,best practices that may vary with the skill level of the locatetechnician, and the like.

According to one embodiment, the information supplied to actual datainput 2314 is generated and/or collected in real time during markingoperations that are performed in the field. For example, the source ofinformation feeding actual data input 2314 may be the marking device2010, although marking device 2010 is only a non-limiting example, asany of the marking devices described herein may be used. The actual datainput 2314 may be fed with the data from one or more of the sensors 1820and 1920, which data is indicated generally in FIG. 25 as sensor data2322.

Referring again to Table 19, the values that are contained in operatinglimits table 2316 may be expressed in terms that correspond to the dataformat that is returned from sensor devices 1820 and 1920. For example,in one embodiment the light sensor 1826 output may be a voltage, andthus the ambient light level may be expressed in volts in operatinglimits table 2316. However, the values in table 2316 are not limited tobeing in any particular format, as discussed above in connection withTables 15-18.

Operations algorithm 2310 may compare the information of operatinglimits table 2316 that is present at expected data input 2312 to theinformation of sensor data 2322 that is present at actual data input2314 to determine whether out-of-tolerance environmental and/oroperational conditions and/or violations of certain process tolerancesare present during marking operations. In one example, operationsalgorithm 2310 may determine whether marking operations are beingperformed when the ambient temperature is too hot or too cold, or whenthe ambient humidity is too high. In another example, operationsalgorithm 2310 may determine whether the spray angle or spray distancedetected during marking operations exceed acceptable parameters. In yetanother example, operations algorithm 2310 may determine whether markingoperations are being performed when it is too dark, based on acomparison of a sensed light level to a light level specification.

When out-of-tolerance environmental and/or operational conditions and/orviolations of certain process specifications are detected, operationsalgorithm 2310 may generate out-of-tolerance alerts 2324, the contentsof which may reflect the nature of the out-of-tolerance condition. Thealerts may take any suitable form, such as an audible alert (a chime, aring tone, a verbal message or command (e.g., synthesized speechprovided by a text-to-speech synthesizer of the marking device), etc.,for example presented via speaker 2138), a visual alert (e.g., a textdisplay presented via display 2126, an indicator light, etc.), a tactilealert (e.g., vibration of a tactile indicator, as described below inconnection with FIG. 30), any combination of those options, or any othersuitable type of notification.

Any out-of-tolerance alerts 2324 that are generated may be logged in analerts log 2326 of operations monitoring application 2300. Further, inthose embodiments in which the operations monitoring application 2300 isnot loaded and running on the marking device itself, anyout-of-tolerance alerts 2324 that are generated may be transmitted tothe marking device 2010, in which the control electronics 112 mayprocess the out-of-tolerance alerts 2324. For example, controlelectronics 112 may receive out-of-tolerance alerts 2324 and present thecontents thereof to the user of marking device 2010 (e.g., visuallyand/or audibly via the display 2126 and/or speaker 2138, via a tactileindicator, etc.).

Additionally, control electronics 112 may generate alert acknowledgments2330 that correspond to out-of-tolerance alerts 2324. Alertacknowledgments 2130 may be returned to operations monitoringapplication 2300 and logged in alerts log 2326. Alert acknowledgments2330 provide evidence that out-of-tolerance alerts 2324 have beenreceived and processed at marking device 2010. The contents of alertslog 2326 may be useful to various business applications with respect tomarking operations. For example, the contents of alerts log 2326 may beuseful to business applications for assessing the quality of markingoperations that are performed in the field, assessing the skill and/orcompetency levels of technicians, and the like. In a specific example,out-of-tolerance alerts 2324 in alerts log 2326 may be monitored in realtime by, for example, management personnel of locate companies (e.g.,locate contractors, facility owners) regulatory authorities, or otheragencies, wherein certain actions in response to out-of-tolerance alerts2324 may be initiated in real time by the management personnel.

In one implementation, operations monitoring application 2300 may beinstalled and executing on a computing device (not shown) that isseparate from marking device 2010, but in communication with the markingdevice 2010, such as remote computer 150. In another implementation,operations monitoring application 2300 may be installed (in memory) andexecuting (via one or more processors) on a marking device itself, suchthe marking device 2010. In yet another implementation, certainfunctionality and/or components of operations monitoring application2300 may be installed and executing fully or in part on the combinationof a separate computing device and a marking device (e.g., markingdevice 2010).

To facilitate operation of a marking device (e.g., marking device 2010)with operations monitoring application 2300 of FIG. 25 when theapplication 2300 is executed partly or entirely on a separate computingdevice (e.g., remote computer 150), the marking device may have loadedthereon an operations monitoring client, which may be a counterpart tooperations monitoring application 2300. For example, the operationsmonitoring client may be executed by the processor 118 and may processinformation of operations monitoring application 2300. Alternatively,the operations monitoring client may comprise a combination of hardwareand software and/or firmware, which may be coupled to the marking deviceto communicate with the processor 118. In such an embodiment, thesoftware and/or firmware may process information of operationsmonitoring application 2300. Alternatively, as noted above, the controlelectronics 112 of the marking device may include fully or in partoperations monitoring application 2300 itself.

Table 20 shows an example of sensor data 2322 that may be returned fromenvironmental sensors 1820 and operational sensors 1920. Further, sensordata 2322 may include timestamp information, for example from the timingsystem 128.

TABLE 20 Example sensor data 2322 that may be returned from markingdevice Quantity Data returned Timestamp 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:15.2 Ambienttemperature 73 degrees F. Surface temperature 78 degrees F. Humidity 31%Illuminance 1500 lux Altitude 300 meters Heading (from compass) 243degrees Inclination −40 degrees Acceleration (x-axis) 0.285 gAcceleration (y-axis) 0.05 g Acceleration (z-axis) 0.155 g Yaw rate 12degrees/second Proximity 15 cm Pressure 65 psi Device health sensorbattery strength 67% Geo-location N35°43.57518, W078°49.78314 Imagecaptured (Y/N) Y Audio captured (Y/N) N

Non-limiting examples of how the data provided by the environmentalsensors 1820 and operational sensors 1920 may be used by the operationsmonitoring application 2300 are now given. It should be appreciated thatnumerous other conditions may be detected and acted upon.

-   -   1. Readings from ambient temperature sensor 1822 may be used by        operations monitoring application 2300 to determine whether        marking material is being dispensed while in an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to ambient temperature. If an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to ambient temperature        is present, an example of the corresponding out-of-tolerance        alert 2324 may be “It is too cold (or too hot) to be dispensing        marking material reliably. Please acknowledge.”    -   2. Readings from surface temperature sensor 1823 may be used by        operations monitoring application 2300 to determine whether        marking material is being dispensed on a surface whose        temperature is in an out-of-tolerance condition. If an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to surface temperature        is present, an example of the corresponding out-of-tolerance        alert 2324 may be “The surface is too cold (or too hot) to be        dispensing marking material reliably. Please acknowledge.”    -   3. Readings from humidity sensor 1824 may be used by operations        monitoring application 2300 to determine whether marking        material is being dispensed while in an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to humidity. If an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to humidity is present, an example of the        corresponding out-of-tolerance alert 2324 may be “The humidity        is too high to be dispensing marking material reliably. Please        acknowledge.”    -   4. Readings from light sensor 1826 may be used by operations        monitoring application 2300 to determine whether marking        operations are being performed while in an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to lighting. If an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to lighting is present, an example of the        corresponding out-of-tolerance alert 2324 may be “There is        insufficient light to be performing marking operations        effectively and/or safely. Please acknowledge.”    -   5. Readings from location tracking system 130 may be used by        operations monitoring application 2300 to determine whether        marking operations are being performed in an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to geo-location (e.g., at the wrong        location). If an out-of-tolerance condition with respect to the        geo-location is present, an example of the corresponding        out-of-tolerance alert 2324 may be “It appears that you are at        the wrong location. Please suspend operations and check the        location information on the locate request ticket. Please        acknowledge.”    -   6. Readings from one or more operational temperature sensors        1922 may be used by operations monitoring application 2300 to        determine whether a component of the marking device is        overheating. An example of the corresponding out-of-tolerance        alert 2324 may be “Warning. The marking device is overheating.        Please turn off the device and allow it to cool. Please        acknowledge.”    -   7. Readings from compass 1924 may be used by operations        monitoring application 2300 to determine whether the heading of        the marking device is out-of-tolerance. If an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to heading is present, an example of the        corresponding out-of-tolerance alert 2324 may be “You appear to        be heading in the wrong direction. Please adjust course. Please        acknowledge.”    -   8. Readings from inclinometer 1926 may be used by operations        monitoring application 2300 to determine whether the marking        device is being used in an out-of-tolerance condition with        respect to marking material spray angle. If an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to marking material spray angle is        present, an example of the corresponding out-of-tolerance alert        2324 may be “Spraying angle is too shallow (or too steep).        Please adjust the spraying angle to be about perpendicular to        target surface. Please acknowledge.”    -   9. Readings from accelerometer 1928 may be used by operations        monitoring application 2300 to determine whether the marking        device is being used in an out-of-tolerance condition with        respect to the rate of movement and/or motion of the marking        device during the marking operations. If an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to the motion is present, an example of        the corresponding out-of-tolerance alert 2324 may be “Spraying        motion is too rapid or too erratic. Please slow down or smooth        out the spraying motion. Please acknowledge.”    -   10. Readings from yaw rate sensor 1929 may be used by operations        monitoring application 2300 to determine whether the marking        device is being used in an out-of-tolerance condition with        respect to yaw rate. If an out-of-tolerance condition with        respect to yaw rate of the marking device is present, an example        of the corresponding out-of-tolerance alert 2324 may be “You are        twisting the device too quickly. Please acknowledge.”    -   11. Readings from proximity sensor 1930 may be used by        operations monitoring application 2300 to determine whether the        marking device is being used in an out-of-tolerance condition        with respect to the marking material spray distance. If an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to marking material        spray distance is present, an example of the corresponding        out-of-tolerance alert 2324 may be “The tip of the marking        device is too close (or too far) from the target surface. Please        adjust to between 3 and 6 inches from surface. Please        acknowledge.”    -   12. Readings from pressure sensor 1931 may be used by operations        monitoring application 2300 to determine whether the technician        is applying sufficient pressure to an actuation mechanism (e.g.,        trigger) of the marking device. If an out-of-tolerance condition        with respect to applied pressure is present, an example of the        corresponding out-of-tolerance alert 2324 may be “You are not        applying sufficient pressure to the trigger. Please        acknowledge.”    -   13. In one embodiment the device health sensor 1932 may monitor        a battery level of the marking device. If an out-of-tolerance        condition with respect to the battery level is detected by        operations monitoring application 2300, an example of the        corresponding out-of-tolerance alert 2324 may be “The battery of        the marking device is too weak to perform locate operations        reliably. Please replace or recharge the battery as soon as        possible. Please acknowledge.”    -   14. Audio provided by audio recorder 1830 may be used to monitor        whether a marking dispenser is operating appropriately. For        example, if an actuation of the marking device's actuation        system is detected but no sound is present from the audio        recorder, an error in the operation of the marking dispenser may        be indicated. An example of a corresponding alert which may be        generated is “The marking dispenser is empty or not functioning.        Please investigate. Please acknowledge.”

Other conditions and events that may arise with the operationsmonitoring application 2300 and which may trigger an alert ornotification to the technician include, but are not limited to, thefollowing:

-   -   (a) User Input Errors—Action taken by the user, or suggested by        usage pattern is invalid for the current device configuration;    -   (b) System Malfunction Errors—Marking device encountered a        problem while processing valid data, and was unsuccessful in        automatically correcting this problem;    -   (c) Storage Errors—Standard data cache of the marking device or        extended storage experiences some error in storing the current        data, such as insufficient storage space or some other storage        error;    -   (d) Power Errors—Marking device has either exhausted the battery        supply (e.g., power source 114), or an unrecoverable        battery/power error was encountered;    -   (e) Network Errors—The network component (e.g., communication        interface 124) has experienced an unrecoverable error;    -   (f) Geographic Location Errors—The GPS component (e.g., location        tracking system 130) has experienced an unrecoverable error;    -   (g) Marking Material Detection Errors—The RFID component of        marking material detection mechanism 132 has experienced an        unrecoverable error;    -   (h) Actuator Errors—The actuator component (e.g., actuation        system 120) has experienced an unrecoverable error;    -   (i) Synchronization Errors—Marking device encountered a problem        while synchronizing with the host server (e.g., computer 150)        and was unsuccessful in automatically correcting this problem;    -   (j) Data Accessibility Errors—The requested data cannot be        retrieved due to data corruption, cache locking, or missing        medium;    -   (k) User Input Required—Operator response is required prior to        continuing;    -   (l) Network Connectivity—The network component (e.g.,        communication interface 124) has detected a change in coverage        (coverage loss, overage gain, etc);    -   (m) Geographic Position Accuracy—The GPS component (e.g.,        location tracking system 130) has detected a change in overall        accuracy (gain or loss of satellite, WAAS support, etc); and    -   (n) Paint Detection—The RFID component of marking material        detection mechanism 132 has detected a change.

In the examples above, alert acknowledgments 2330 in response toout-of-tolerance alerts 2324 may take various forms. In one example, thetechnician may acknowledge using the user interface 126, for example bypushing a button, flipping a switch, or selecting a menu option,depending on the type of user interface. Different user inputs (buttons,toggles, menu selections, etc.) may have different meanings with respectto providing alert acknowledgments 2330. Table 21 below shows an exampleof alert acknowledgments 2330, wherein, as a non-limiting example,certain keys of a user interface of the marking device have certainmeanings.

TABLE 21 Example alert acknowledgments 2330 Key Meaning # Indicates anacknowledgement that the alert is received * Indicates anacknowledgement that the alert is received and that corrective action isbeing or has been taken @ Indicates an acknowledgement that the alert isreceived and that marking operations are continuing regardless $Indicates an acknowledgement that the alert is received and that markingoperations are (temporarily) suspended

In another example, a dropdown menu and/or a set of icons that includethe various types of alert acknowledgments 2330, such as shown in Table21, may be presented on the display of the marking device. The user maythen select the desired type of alert acknowledgment 2330 from thedropdown menu and/or icons.

Also, as mentioned above, out-of-tolerance conditions and otherconditions detected by the environmental and/or operational sensors maybe logged, for example into alerts log 2326, irrespective of whether analert is provided to the technician. Thus, for any of theabove-described examples in which an alert may be generated, a log ofthe detected condition may also or alternatively be made. Also, otherconditions than those described above may be logged.

FIG. 26 is a functional block diagram of an example of a locateoperations system 2400 that includes operations monitoring application2300 of FIG. 25 and the marking device 2010 of FIG. 19. Again, othermarking devices as described herein may be used, and marking device 2010is described only for purposes of illustration. Locate operations system2400 may include a central server 2410, which is maintained and operatedby, for example, a locate company, a facilities owner, a regulatoryauthority, or other agency (not shown). Central server 2410 may be anylocal or centralized computing device that is capable of hosting andfacilitating execution of one or more applications. In implementation,central server 2410 may be a networked application server and/or webserver that is connected to a network 2412. Examples of personnel thatmay be associated with central server 2410 include locate technicians2414.

Residing on central server 2410 may be business applications 2416, whichmay be any business applications that may be useful with respect tolocate and marking operations. In one example, business applications2416 may include a locate and marking operations scoring application2418 that processes information about locate operations and generateslocate operations scores 2420 that may indicate the degree of quality ofindividual locate operations. Additionally, SOP information 2317 mayreside at central server 2410 and may be accessed by operationsmonitoring application 2300 and/or any entity of locate operationssystem 2400 via network 2412.

For example, locate operations scoring application 2418 may be based onvarious embodiments of a quality assessment application, as well as anyone or more of the scoring criteria and/or exemplary metrics disclosedin connection with such quality assessment applications, as set forth inU.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/493,109, filed Jun. 26,2009, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF A FIELDSERVICE OPERATION,” and published as U.S. Patent Publication2009-0327024-A1, which application is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. In particular, a quality assessmentapplication may be configured to receive a variety of informationgermane to locate and marking operations, and compare such informationto expected values or benchmarks (metrics) based on various criteria. Ascoring algorithm implemented as part of some implementations of aquality assessment application may compare various input information(e.g., “field information,” as obtained from one or more pieces oflocating equipment such as a marking device) to the expected values orbenchmarks to generate a quality assessment score in an automatedfashion.

In another example, business applications 2416 may include a ticketapproval application 2422 that processes information about locate andmarking operations and generates ticket approval outcomes 2424 thatagain may indicate the degree of quality of individual locate andmarking operations. For example, ticket approval application 2422 may bebased on the ticket approval system that is described in U.S.Non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/204,454, filed Sep. 4, 2008,entitled “TICKET APPROVAL SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF PERFORMING QUALITYCONTROL IN FIELD SERVICE APPLICATIONS,” and published as U.S. PatentPublication 2009-0204466-A1, which application is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. This application describes a ticketapproval system for and method of performing quality control (QC) infield service applications. The ticket approval system may include awork management server. The work management server may include a ticketapproval software application and a database for storing digital ticketinformation, such as field service site identification information,manifest information, and digital images of field service activities. Amethod of performing QC may include, but is not limited to, the fieldtechnician completing the ticket and providing data/images, an approverviewing and selecting a certain field technician and ticket for qualitycontrol review, the approver reviewing data/images of the selectedticket, the approver approving the ticket, the approver tagging theticket for QC, a QC approver processing QC referrals, the QC approverrouting the ticket to a QC technician, the QC technician completing theQC tasks and updating the data/images of the selected ticket, theapprover tagging the ticket for coaching, the approver processingcoaching referrals, and the approver performing coaching tasks.

Network 2412 may be, for example, any local area network (LAN) and/orwide area network (WAN) for connecting to the Internet. In onenon-limiting embodiment, network 2412 provides the communication linkbetween any and/or all entities of locate operations system 2400. Forexample, network 2412 provides the communication network by whichinformation may be exchanged between central server 2410, one or moreonsite computers 2430, and/or locating equipment (e.g., marking device2010) that are used by locate technicians 2414 in the field.

Onsite computers 2430 may be any computing devices that are capable ofprocessing and executing program instructions. Onsite computers 2430 maybe used by locate technicians 2414 that are performing locate andmarking operations in the field. For example, each onsite computer 2430may be a portable computer, a personal computer, a tablet device, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular radiotelephone, a mobilecomputing device, a touch-screen device, a touchpad device, or generallyany device including, or connected to, a processor and a user interface.Preferably, each onsite computer 2430 is a portable computing device,such as laptop computer or tablet device. Onsite computers 2430 may beused by locate technicians 2414 to process locate request tickets (notshown) and to perform locate and marking operations accordingly.

Additionally, operations monitoring application 2300 may be installed ononsite computers 2430. For example, operations monitoring application2300 may be used to process information received from or transmitted tomarking device 2010. Each onsite computer 2430 may include a processingunit 2432, which may be any standard controller or microprocessor devicethat is capable of executing program instructions, such as those fromoperations monitoring application 2300. Each onsite computer 2430 mayalso include a quantity of memory 2434, which may be any data storagemechanism for storing any information that is processed locally atonsite computer 2430. Processing unit 2432 and memory 2434 may be usedfor managing the overall operations of onsite computer 2430.

Further, each onsite computer 2430 may include a communication interface2438 for connecting to network 2412 and/or for communication withlocating equipment. For example, communication interface 2438 may be anywired and/or wireless communication interface by which information maybe exchanged between any entities of locate operations system 2400.

Operations monitoring application 2300 is used in locate operationssystem 2400 for detecting and monitoring the use of locating equipment(e.g., marking device 2010) in out-of-tolerance conditions, as describedabove. For example, operations algorithm 2310 of operations monitoringapplication 2300 determines whether out-of-tolerance environmentaland/or operational conditions are present during locate operationsand/or whether violations of certain process tolerances are presentduring locate operations. Optionally, operations monitoring application2300 may be used to automatically enable and disable (eitherelectrically, mechanically, or both) locating equipment in the fieldbased on certain out-of-tolerance conditions being present.

Further, locate operations system 2400 is not limited to the types andnumbers of entities that are shown in FIG. 26. Any types and numbers ofentities that may be useful in underground facilities locateapplications may be included in locate operations system 2400. Moredetails of a method of detecting and monitoring the use of locatingequipment for out-of-tolerance conditions by use of locate operationssystem 2400 are described with reference to FIG. 27.

FIG. 27 illustrates a flow diagram of an example of a method 2500 ofdetecting and monitoring the use of locating equipment, such as thevarious marking devices described herein, for out-of-toleranceconditions utilizing, for example, locate operations system 2400 of FIG.26. As noted above, the method may be implemented on any suitablecombination of hardware, such as those items shown in FIG. 26, orentirely on the marking device itself. Method 2500 may include, but isnot limited to, the following steps, which may be implemented in anyorder.

At step 2510, onsite computer 2430 or the marking device itself maydetect powering up (e.g., a power on state), and/or one more specificevents (e.g., docking/de-docking of a marking device, one or moreactuations, error conditions, technician interaction with a userinterface, etc.) associated with a marking device, such as markingdevice 2010 or 2100. Additionally, the relevant SOP information isacquired. For example, using location tracking system 130 of markingdevice 2010, the geo-location of the job/work site may be determined.Based on this geo-location information, operations monitoringapplication 2300 automatically queries SOP information 2317 at centralserver 2410 for the SOP information of the regulatory body thatcorresponds to the location of the work site, which is used to informoperating limits table 2316 of operations monitoring application 2300.

Subsequently, operations monitoring application 2300 at onsite computer2430 may begin monitoring the environmental and/or operating conditionsassociated with use of the marking device. For example, operationsalgorithm 2310 of operations monitoring application 2300 beginsmonitoring sensor data 2322 that is returned from marking device 2010and compares the contents of sensor data 2322 to information inoperating limits table 2316.

At decision step 2512, operations algorithm 2310 of operationsmonitoring application 2300 determines whether any out-of-toleranceconditions are present. For example, if any one of the followingout-of-tolerance conditions is present, method 2500 may proceed to step2516. However, if none of the following out-of-tolerance conditions arepresent, method 2500 may proceed to step 2514. The followingout-of-tolerance conditions are exemplary only and not meant to belimiting.

-   -   1. Readings from ambient temperature sensor 1822 may indicate an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to ambient temperature        when compared against, for example, the maximum ambient        temperature and/or minimum ambient temperature specifications of        operating limits table 2316 (see, for example, Table 19).    -   2. Readings from surface temperature sensor 1823 may indicate an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to surface temperature        when compared against, for example, the maximum surface        temperature and/or minimum surface temperature specifications of        operating limits table 2316 (see, for example, Table 19).    -   3. Readings from humidity sensor 1824 may indicate an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to humidity when        compared against, for example, the maximum ambient humidity        specification of operating limits table 2316 (see, for example,        Table 19).    -   4. Readings from light sensor 1826 may indicate an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to lighting when        compared against, for example, the minimum ambient light level        specification of operating limits table 2316 (see, for example,        Table 19).    -   5. Readings from compass 1924 may indicate an out-of-tolerance        conditions with respect to heading when compared against, for        example, an expected value.    -   6. Readings from inclinometer 1926 may indicate an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to marking material        spray angle when compared against, for example, the minimum        spray angle and/or maximum spray angle specifications of        operating limits table 2316 (see, for example, Table 19).    -   7. Readings from accelerometer 1928 may indicate an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to the rate of movement        and/or motion of the marking device when compared against, for        example, the maximum motion rate specification of operating        limits table 2316 (see, for example, Table 19).    -   8. Readings from yaw rate sensor 1929 may indicate an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to yaw rate when        compared against, for example, the maximum yaw rate        specification of operating limits table 2316 (see, for example,        Table 19).    -   9. Readings from proximity sensor 1930 may indicate an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to the marking material        spray distance when compared against, for example, the minimum        spray distance and/or maximum spray distance specifications of        operating limits table 2316 (see, for example, Table 19).    -   10. Information from the device health sensor 1932 that is        monitoring the battery of the marking device may indicate an        out-of-tolerance condition with respect to battery strength when        compared against, for example, the minimum battery strength        specification of operating limits table 2316 (see, for example,        Table 19).

At step 2514, operations monitoring application 2300 continues tomonitor the conditions (e.g., environmental and/or operating) of themarking device during marking operations. For example, operationsmonitoring application 2300 at onsite computer 2430 continues to monitorthe conditions of the marking device 2010 during marking operations bycomparing the contents of sensor data 2322 to information in operatinglimits table 2316. At the conclusion of this step, method 2500 may, forexample, return to step 2512.

At step 2516, operations monitoring application 2300 generates thecorresponding out-of-tolerance alert 2324, logs the out-of-tolerancealert 2324 in alerts log 2326, and transmits the out-of-tolerance alert2324 to the locating equipment, such as to marking device 2010, in thoseembodiments in which the method is not entirely implemented on themarking device itself. By way of example, the following out-of-tolerancealerts 2324 correspond respectively to the example out-of-toleranceconditions of step 2512. The following out-of-tolerance alerts 2324 areexemplary only and not meant to be limiting.

-   -   1. “The ambient temperature is too cold (or too hot) to be        dispensing marking material reliably. Please acknowledge.”    -   2. “The surface temperature is too cold (or too hot) to be        dispensing marking material reliably. Please acknowledge.”    -   3. “The humidity it too high to be dispensing marking material        reliably. Please acknowledge.”    -   4. “There is insufficient light to be performing marking        operations effectively and/or safely. Please acknowledge.”    -   5. “You appear to be heading the wrong direction. Please adjust        course. Please acknowledge.”    -   6. “Spraying angle is too shallow (or too steep). Please adjust        the spraying angle to be about perpendicular to target surface.        Please acknowledge.”    -   7. “Spraying motion is too rapid or too erratic. Please slow        down or smooth out the spraying motion. Please acknowledge.”    -   8. “You are twisting the device too quickly. Please        acknowledge.”    -   9. “The tip of the marking device is too close (or too far) from        the target surface. Please adjust to between 3 and 6 inches from        surface. Please acknowledge.”    -   10. “The battery of the marking device is too weak to perform        locate operations reliably. Please replace or recharge the        battery as soon as possible. Please acknowledge.”

At step 2518, one or more out-of-tolerance alerts 2324 are received atthe locating equipment, such as marking device 2010, in thoseembodiments in which alerts are not generated on the marking deviceitself. The out-of-tolerance alerts 2324 may be presented to the userin, for example, text form via a display of the marking device, audibleform (e.g., synthesized speech provided by a text-to-speech synthesizerof the marking device) via a speaker of the marking device, or in anyother suitable manner.

At step 2520, a certain alert acknowledgment 2330 may be returned tooperations monitoring application 2300. For example, the user, such as acertain locate technician 2414 may press a certain key of the userinterface of the marking device and initiate the desired alertacknowledgment 2330, such as those shown above in Table 21. Once thealert acknowledgment 2330 is received at operations monitoringapplication 2300, it may be associated with its originatingout-of-tolerance alert 2324 and logged in alerts log 2326. Subsequently,operations monitoring application 2300 continues to monitor theoperating conditions of the locating equipment, such as marking device2010. At the conclusion of this step, method 2500 may, for example,return to step 2512 and may optionally proceed to step 2522.

Optionally, method 2500 may include steps to disable locating equipmentuntil or unless a certain out-of-tolerance condition is corrected. Forexample, method 2500 may optionally include the following steps.

At optional decision step 2522, certain out-of-tolerance conditions maycarry such importance that the suspension of marking operations ismandated (e.g., disable actuations so as to impede dispensing ofmarkers). One such out-of-tolerance condition may be theout-of-tolerance condition with respect to temperature. Another suchout-of-tolerance condition may be the out-of-tolerance condition withrespect to humidity. Yet another such out-of-tolerance condition may bethe out-of-tolerance condition with respect to lighting. Still anothersuch out-of-tolerance condition may be the out-of-tolerance conditionwith respect to geo-location. Other out-of-tolerance conditions may alsobe sufficiently important to mandate suspending marking operations, andthose examples listed are non-limiting. In these examples, operationsmonitoring application 2300 may wait a certain amount of time (e.g., 1minute) from the initial detection of the out-of-tolerance conditionsand again acquire sensor data 2322 to determine whether theout-of-tolerance condition is still present or has been corrected. Ifthe out-of-tolerance condition has been corrected, method 2500 mayproceed to step 2524. However, if the out-of-tolerance condition has notbeen corrected, method 2500 may proceed to step 2526.

At optional step 2524, the locate technician 2414 continues to performmarking operations and operations monitoring application 2300 continuesto monitor the conditions of the marking device. At the conclusion ofthis step, method 2500 may, for example, return to step 2512.

At optional step 2526, the marking device may be disabled. For example,actuation system 120 of marking device 2010 may be disabled so as toimpede dispensing of marking material. The action to disable may belogged in alerts log 2326.

At any time during the steps of method 2500, the contents of alerts log2326 may be processed by business applications 2416. In one example,alerts log 2326 may be processed by locate operations scoringapplication 2418 and/or ticket approval application 2422 for assessingthe quality of locate and marking operations that are performed in thefield, assessing the skill and/or competency levels of locatetechnicians, and the like.

While FIGS. 25-27 illustrate some non-limiting examples of manners inwhich data provided by environmental sensors and/or operational sensorsof a marking device may be used, other uses are also possible. Forexample, the data from environmental sensors 1820 and/or operationalsensors 1920 may be used to trigger alerts or notifications to atechnician irrespective of whether the sensed condition is outsidetolerances. For example, in some instances there may not be a specifictolerance for a given environmental or operational condition, and yet analert to the technician may be generated for the purpose of making thetechnician aware of whatever value the sensed condition has taken. Thus,the generation of alerts/notifications/warnings based on sensedenvironmental and operational conditions is not limited to thoseinstances in which the sensed condition takes any particular value(s).Also, as previously explained, the notification signal may take anysuitable form, such as an audible alert (a chime, a ring tone, a verbalmessage or command (e.g., synthesized speech provided by atext-to-speech synthesizer of the marking device), etc.), a visual alert(e.g., a text display (for example, in those embodiments in which themarking device includes a display), an indicator light, etc.), a tactileindication, any combination of those options, or any other suitable typeof notification.

Also, it should be appreciated that information from one or more of theenvironmental sensors 1820 and/or operational sensors 1920 may be usedmore generally to control or alter operation of the marking device. Forexample, one or more components of the marking device 2010 or 2100 maybe activated, enabled, or disabled, or the functionality thereofcontrolled or altered in some manner, in response to one or more of theenvironmental sensors 1820 and/or operational sensors 1920 providingenvironmental information and/or operational information indicative thatsuch control should be exhibited. Such activation, enablement, and/ordisablement may be electrical in nature (e.g., providing power or anenable signal, triggering operation of a sensor, etc.), mechanical innature (e.g., causing a locking mechanism to be engaged on the actuationsystem) or both. For example, if the surface temperature sensed bysurface temperature sensor 1823 is outside of acceptable tolerances fordispensing of a marking material (such as paint), the actuation system120 may be disabled, thus preventing dispensing of a marking material.If the sensed inclination of the marking device as sensed byinclinometer 1926 is unsuitable for dispensing of a marking material(such as paint), the actuation system 120 may be disabled, thuspreventing dispensing of the marking material. Similarly, if theacceleration as sensed by accelerometer 1928 is out-of-tolerance withaccepted practices, the actuation system 120 may be disabled. If asensed condition is out-of-tolerance, the operation of one of theenvironmental and/or operational sensors may be altered, for example byaltering the sampling rate to collect more or less data. According toone embodiment, the sampling rate of a location tracking system of themarking device may be increased in response to an out-of-toleranceheading detected by the compass of the marking device. According toanother embodiment, the sampling rate of the location tracking systemmay be increased in response to the location tracking system detectingan out-of-tolerance location. Other control actions are also possible,and the aspects described herein relating to controlling the markingdevice in response to sensing environmental and/or operationalconditions are not limited in the types of actions that may be taken orthe sensed conditions which may trigger action/alteration.

Furthermore, the determination of whether a condition or multipleconditions are out-of-tolerance, whether to generate an alert ornotification to a technician, or whether to control/alter somefunctionality of the marking device based at least in part onenvironmental and/or operational information, may be made in anysuitable manner. For instance, as illustrated in some of the foregoingexamples, such a determination may be made by comparison of a singlevalue from a sensor to an expected or target value. Alternatively,outputs from the environmental sensors and/or operational sensors may bemonitored for changes (e.g., any change, or by some predeterminedamount), rather than for a particular single value. For example, achange in temperature, or a change in light, may initiate generation ofan alert, rather than a single temperature or light value.

In addition, information provided by one or more of the environmentalsensors and/or operational sensors may be monitored and analyzed todetect patterns. For example, information provided by the operationalsensors may be used to formulate and assess patterns of operation of aparticular technician, which may be thought of as technician“signatures.” As an example, a particular technician may have acharacteristic motion when performing a marking operation, such aspainting an arrow on the ground, or may perform the operation at acharacteristic speed. Assessing information provided by the one or moreaccelerometers 1928, for example, may allow for determination of theunique characteristic. Once determined, information from the operationalsensors on future jobs may allow for identification of the technicianbased on the unique characteristic, and may also be used to assesswhether the technician is operating in his/her normal manner or whetherhe/she is deviating from his/her usual operation, which may suggest thatthe technician was doing something out of the ordinary, and whichaccordingly may cause generation of an alert/notification and/oralteration of the marking device. Such information, therefore, may beused for quality control and/or for training purposes of technicians.Similarly, such operating information from multiple technicians may beused to develop standard operating guidelines or protocols.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing discussion that informationprovided by two or more of the environmental sensors may be used incombination, for example to assess the environmental conditions, tointeract with the technician (e.g., generate an alert), and/or tocontrol/alter operation of the marking device (e.g., disable or enableactuation of the marking device). As a non-limiting example, the sensedambient temperature in combination with the sensed humidity may provideinformation about whether a particular form of precipitation is present(e.g., snow, rain, etc.), in response to which an alert may be generatedand/or one or more components of the marking device may be enabled ordisabled (e.g., the actuation system may be disabled). Non-limitingexamples of useful combinations of environmentally sensed conditionsinclude: ambient temperature+humidity; surface temperature+humidity;ambient temperature+surface temperature; ambient temperature+lightsensor; light+image capture; light+audio capture; and ambienttemperature+humidity+light. However, it should be appreciated that othercombinations are also possible.

It should also be appreciated from the foregoing discussion thatinformation provided by two or more of the operational sensors may beused in combination, for example to assess the operational conditions ofa marking device, to interact with the technician, to assess, determineand/or analyze technician “signatures” associated with deviceuse/manipulation, and/or to control or alter operation of the markingdevice (e.g., to disable actuation of the marking device, enableactuation of the marking device, etc.). Non-limiting examples of usefulcombinations of sensed operational conditions which may be used for anyof the purposes described above include: acceleration of markingdevice+proximity of marking device to surface; proximity of markingdevice to surface+inclination of marking device; acceleration+heading;geo-location+heading+acceleration; andgeo-location+acceleration+inclination. However, it should be appreciatedthat other combinations are also possible.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment, information provided by one ormore environmental sensors may be used in combination with informationprovided by one or more operational sensors, for example to assess thequality of the marking operation, to interact with the technician, toassess, determine and/or analyze technician “signatures” associated withdevice use/manipulation, and/or to control or alter operation of themarking device (e.g., disable or enable actuation of the markingdevice). For example, when dispensing marking material, the angle atwhich the marking dispenser may be suitably held may depend on thesurface temperature on which the marking material is being dispensed.Thus, information from an inclinometer and a surface temperature sensorof the marking device may be considered in combination to assess whethera technician is performing a marking operation appropriately, and maytrigger any of the actions described above. Other combinations of sensorinformation may also be useful depending on a particular application.

IX. GROUP MODE AND SOLO MODE

As previously explained, the marking devices described herein may beused in different modes, examples of which include marking mode andlandmark mode. In addition, marking devices according to one aspect ofthe present invention may be operated in a so-called “solo mode” or aso-called “group mode.”

For some marking operations, a single technician may be present at thejobsite and may complete the marking operation. Thus, any marking datacollected relating to the job may be solely from the technician'smarking device and may not need to be combined with marking data fromany other marking devices. In such situations, the marking device may beoperated as an individual, independent marking device in solo mode. Asdescribed above, data collected by the marking device may be storedlocally and/or transmitted to a host server, such as remote computer150.

For certain types of underground facility locate operations, multiplelocate technicians may be working on a same locate ticketsimultaneously. When this occurs, it may be advantageous for some or allof the marking devices that are used during performance of the ticketedjob to consolidate data, such as by providing data to one of the markingdevices or to a host server. This may be accomplished through the use ofa group mode of operation of the marking devices. In group mode, amarking device may act as a “worker” device, and may not be capable oftransmitting its collected marking data to a remote computer. Forexample, the wireless transmission capability of the marking device maybe disabled in group mode. Rather, the marking data may be cached inlocal memory 122 of the marking device, or may be transmitted to anothermarking device, which may act as a “leader” device, receiving thecollected marking data from the other marking devices used for themarking operation. The leader marking device may then transmit thecollected marking information to a remote computer, or may handle thecollected information in any suitable manner.

Selection of solo mode and group mode may be accomplished in anysuitable manner. For example, selection between these two modes may befacilitated by any suitable combination of hardware and/or software onthe marking device. For example, the marking device may include modecontroller software for selecting the operating mode of the markingdevice. According to one embodiment, the user interface of the markingdevice may include a toggle switch for toggling between solo mode andgroup mode. Alternatively, the marking device may present the technicianwith a menu on a graphical display of user interface 122, from which thetechnician may choose the desired mode. Other schemes for allowingselection of solo mode and group mode are also possible.

X. ENHANCEMENTS TO DETERMINATION OF DISPENSING LOCATION OF MARKINGMATERIAL

As mentioned previously, in some situations it may be desirable to knowthe location of any marking material dispensed by a marking device.According to some embodiments, the location of any dispensed markingmaterial may be approximated by the location of virtually any point onthe marking device itself (e.g., by acquiring geo-location informationfrom a location tracking system coupled to the marking device).

In one exemplary embodiment, the accuracy of the dispensing location ofmarking material may be improved by selecting a point on the markingdevice sufficiently close to the point from which marking material isdispensed. For example, in some implementations, the marking materialmay be dispensed near the tip of the marking device, such thatdetermination of the location of the tip of the marking device mayprovide a sufficiently accurate approximation of the location of thedispensed marking material, and therefore a determination of theresulting marking pattern (e.g., dots, lines, arrows, lettering, etc.).In addition, determining the motion of the tip of the marking device mayallow for assessment of technician manipulation of the marking device,which may be used for quality control, training purposes, and standardsetting, among other things.

Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention, methods andapparatus are provided for determining the location of the tip of amarking device. However, it should be appreciated that the tip of themarking device is a non-limiting example of a specific point of amarking device for which it may be desirable to know the location, as,for example, other portions of the marking device may be closer to thepoint from which marking material may be dispensed depending on theconfiguration of the marking device. The methods and apparatus describedherein may be applied equally well to the determination of any point ofinterest on the marking device.

One approach for determining the location of the tip of the markingdevice (e.g., tip 2302 shown in FIG. 23), or any other point of intereston the marking device, is to place a location tracking system at thatpoint. Thus, according to one embodiment, a marking device, such as anyof the marking devices described previously herein, or any other markingdevice, may include a location tracking system 130 as discussed in otherembodiments (e.g., a GPS receiver), wherein the location tracking systemis disposed at or sufficiently near the tip of the marking device,allowing for determination of the location of the tip of the markingdevice. Thus, the location tracking system 130 may provide thegeo-location of the tip of the marking device, which, as mentioned, maybe useful for at least two reasons. First, because of the closeproximity of the location tracking system 130 to the point from whichmarking material is dispensed, the geo-location information provided maybe used as an indicator of the location of any dispensed markingmaterial. Secondly, the geo-location information provided by thelocation tracking system may be used to record the motion of the tip ofthe marking device, which, as mentioned, may be used for variouspurposes, including detection of out-of-tolerance operation of themarking device, determination of operating patterns of technicians, etc.

While the above-described embodiment provides a location tracking systempositioned at the point of interest on the marking device, suchpositioning of a location tracking system may not always be possible oradvantageous. For example, as explained previously herein, in someembodiments the operation of the location tracking system may befacilitated by positioning the location tracking system toward the topof the marking device, for example if the location tracking system is aGPS receiver. However, as mentioned, it may be desirable in someembodiments to determine the location of the tip of the marking device,or any other point of interest of the marking device, which in somesituations will not correspond to the top of the marking device. Thus,according to one embodiment, methods and apparatus are provided fordetermining the location of a point of interest of a marking device whena location tracking system is located at a different point on themarking device. For simplicity of explanation, the following exampleswill be discussed assuming that a location tracking system is locatednear the top of the marking device and that the point of interest of themarking device is the tip of the marking device. It should beappreciated that the described apparatus and techniques may applyequally well to other positions of the location tracking system andpoints of interest on the marking device.

To facilitate the following discussion, it is useful to first considerthe physical configuration at issue for determining the location of thetip of the marking device when the location tracking system is locatedat or near the top of the marking device. For this purpose, the markingdevice may be represented in simplified form as an elongated rod orstick. FIG. 28 illustrates a perspective view of such a simplifiedrepresentation of a marking device, shown as marking device 3000.

In FIG. 28, the x-y plane represents the ground and the z-directionrepresents the vertical direction perpendicular to the ground. The pointP1 may be the location of a location tracking system (e.g., a GPSreceiver), and in some embodiments may correspond generally to the topof the marking device, for example near where the technician may holdthe marking device if it is a handheld device. The point P2 representsthe point of interest of the marking device, and in this non-limitingexample corresponds generally to the tip of the marking device. Thepoint P2 may be assumed to be at ground level, i.e., in the x-y plane(z=0) for purposes of simplicity, except as described below in thoseembodiments in which the distance of P2 from the x-y plane may bemeasured. The shortest distance between P1 and P2 is given by L, whichin some embodiments may correspond to the length of the marking device,although not all embodiments are limited in this respect. For example,if the marking device has a non-linear shape, the distance L may notcorrespond to the length of the marking device. The marking device 3000may be projected onto the x-y plane (z=0) along the dashed line 3002,which therefore lies in the x-y plane. The distance between the pointsP1 and P2 in the x-y plane (i.e., along the dashed line 3002) isrepresented by d. The distance between the point P1 and ground is givenby H (i.e., z=H). At any given time, the marking device may make anangle θ with respect to the x-y plane, i.e., with respect to ground inthis non-limiting example. The projection of the marking device on thex-y plane, i.e., along the line 3002, may be at an angle φ in the x-yplane with respect to the x axis. In some embodiments, the x-axis may bedefined to align with true North, although not all embodiments arelimited in this respect.

According to one embodiment, a marking device, such as marking device3000, may comprise a location tracking system at the point P1. Thelocation tracking system may provide the geo-location of the point P1with respect to the x-y plane, represented as GPS_(o). The geo-locationof P2 in the x-y plane may be represented by GPS′. As will be explained,GPS′ may be determined based on a value of GPS_(o) given by a locationtracking system and determination of suitable combinations of L, d, H,θ, and φ. The value of L may be known before the marking operationbegins, for example since it may be set after manufacture of the markingdevice. The values of d, H, θ, and φ may be directly sensed duringoperation of the marking device or may be calculated using suitable onesof the operational sensors 1920, as will be described below.

According to one embodiment, the geo-location of the tip of a markingdevice, such as marking device 3000, may be determined using the valueof GPS_(o) given by the location tracking system at P1 and accelerometerdata from an accelerometer positioned at or sufficiently near the tip ofthe marking device (i.e., at point P2 in FIG. 28). In this embodiment,it is assumed that the value of L is known or determined in any suitablemanner. The accelerometer in this non-limiting embodiment is a 3-axisaccelerometer. By suitable analysis of the acceleration values for eachaxis, using known algorithms, the angle θ that the marking device 3000makes with the ground may be determined (see, e.g., the previousdiscussion of how to use an accelerometer as an inclinometer, asdescribed by Shanghai Vigor Technology Development Co.). Based on theknown distance L and the determined angle θ, the distance d betweenGPS_(o) and GPS′ in the x-y plane may be calculated (using the fact thatthe cosine of φ is equal to d/L).

Once the distance d is known, the value of GPS′ may be derived fromGPS_(o) if the angle φ is known, since φ may provide the direction fromGPS_(o) to GPS′ (again, in some embodiments the x-axis may be alignedwith, or taken as, true North, such that φ may represent an angle withrespect to true North). The value of φ may be determined in one ofseveral manners. One manner for determining φ is from the readout of acompass of the marking device, such as previously described compass1924. If the location tracking system providing GPS_(o) is a GPSreceiver, then the value of φ may alternatively be taken from theheading information provided as part of the NMEA data stream provided bythe GPS receiver. A third alternative for determining φ is to calculatea direction of motion based on multiple GPS points taken from thelocation tracking system. According to this third alternative, multipleGPS points taken at different times may be used to calculate a directionof motion by, for example, determining the direction indicated by astraight line connecting the multiple GPS points. Other methods fordetermining φ are also possible, as these are non-limiting examples.Once φ is known, the value of GPS′ may then be determined from GPS_(o),d and φ. Once GPS′ is determined, it may be used instead of GPS_(o) (orin addition to GPS_(o)) as more accurate geo-location data, which may beincluded, for example, in one or more event entries and/or electronicrecords as discussed above.

According to an alternative embodiment, the value of GPS′ may bedetermined from a measured value of GPS_(o) using an inclinometer on themarking device, such as inclinometer 1926, previously described. Theinclinometer may provide the value of θ. In this embodiment, it isassumed that the value of L is known or determined in any suitablemanner. Thus, the value of d may be determined using L and θ, asexplained above. The value of φ may be determined in any suitablemanner, for example using any of the techniques described above. Thevalue of GPS′ may then be determined from GPS_(o), d, and φ, as notedabove.

According to another embodiment, the value of GPS′ may be determinedfrom a measured value of GPS_(o) using a proximity sensor, such aspreviously described proximity sensor 1930. In this embodiment, it isassumed that the value of L is known or determined in any suitablemanner. The proximity sensor may be positioned at P1 and configured tomeasure the value of H. Assuming that the point P2 is at or very nearthe ground (i.e., having a vertical height of approximately zero), thevalue of H and the known distance L of the marking device may be used todetermine d, for example using the Pythagorean theorem. The value of φmay be determined in any suitable manner, for example using any of thetechniques described above. The value of GPS′ may then be determinedusing GPS_(o), d, and φ.

As explained, the above-described example, in which a single proximitysensor is used to determine the value of H, may provide suitable resultswhen it is assumed that the point P2 has zero vertical height. In oneembodiment, that assumption may be avoided by also including a proximitysensor at the point P2 and configured to measure the distance between P2and the ground. Then, the difference in height between P1 and P2 (ratherthan the value of H) may be used in connection with the known distance Lto determine the distance d (e.g., using the Pythagorean Theorem). Thevalue of φ may be determined in any suitable manner, for example usingany of the techniques described above. The value of GPS′ may then bedetermined using GPS_(o), d, and φ.

According to a further alternative embodiment, the value of GPS′ may bedetermined from a measured value of GPS_(o) using two 3-axisaccelerometers on the marking device. One accelerometer may be locatedat the point P1 on the marking device, while the second may be locatedat the point P2. Using the techniques described in U.S. PatentApplication Publication 2008/0255795, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety, the location of P2 relative to P1 may bedetermined.

As mentioned, in some instances it may be desirable to track the motionof a specific portion of a marking device, such as the tip of themarking device, for any one of the reasons previously described. Inthose embodiments in which the marking device includes a locationtracking system providing a value of GPS_(o) for a different point onthe marking device than the point of interest, the tracking of the pointof interest may be performed by determining GPS′ (the location of thepoint of interest) for each value of GPS_(o) as the marking device ismoved using any of the above-described techniques.

However, in some instances, the value of GPS_(o) provided by thelocation tracking system may not have sufficient accuracy to allow for adesired level of accuracy in tracking the motion at the desired point onthe marking device (e.g., the point P2). For example, when performing amarking operation, a technician may make marking patterns that arerelatively small compared to the resolution of the location trackingsystem. For example, the technician may make lines, arrows, write words,or make other patterns that have details smaller than the resolution ofthe location tracking system (e.g., smaller than approximately 30 inchesin some embodiments). In such instances, using the above-describedtechniques for determining GPS′ as the point P2 moves may notsufficiently capture the movement with a desired resolution. Thus, thetechniques described below may be used.

According to one embodiment, the motion of the point P2 may be trackedby using any of the above-described techniques to get an initial valueof GPS′ and then using data from an accelerometer at the point P2 todetermine the distance traveled in the x and y directions. Thistechnique is commonly referred to in the relevant arts as “deadreckoning.” In this embodiment, the accelerometer may provideacceleration data for the x and y axes. That data may be integratedtwice to determine the total distance traveled in the x and ydirections, thus giving the position of P2 at any point in time relativeto any initial GPS′ value. Alternatively, the accelerometer may outputvelocity data for each axis, which may be integrated to determine thetotal distance traveled in the x and y directions. A specific example isnow described with respect to FIG. 29.

FIG. 29 illustrates a top view of a non-limiting example of a markingpattern 2800 that may be made by a technician using one of the markingdevices described herein. The marking pattern 2800 comprises lines 2802a-2802 f, which may be painted lines in those embodiments in which themarking material is paint. Those lines are represented in FIG. 29 assolid lines because they correspond to when the actuation system of themarking device (e.g., actuation system 120) is activated to dispensemarking material. Lines 2804 a and 2804 b, described below, are shown asdashed lines because the actuation system is not actuated as the markingdevice traversed the paths indicated by those lines and therefore nopaint was dispensed.

The making of the marking pattern 2800 by a marking device may bedetermined as follows. First, the technician may begin the markingpattern at the point R1, at which time the technician actuates theactuation system to begin dispensing marking material. The location ofpoint R1 may correspond to the initial location of the tip of themarking device and therefore may be determined from a value of GPS_(o)of the top of the marking device and any of the above-describedtechniques for determining the location of the tip relative to thelocation of the top of the marking device.

The technician may then begin to move the marking device along the pathindicated by line 2802 a, ending at the point R2. The motion of the tipof the marking device along line 2802 a may be determined from theoutput of an accelerometer at the tip of the marking device, providingan output signal for both the x and y directions. According to oneembodiment, the output of the accelerometer is velocity data for boththe x and y axes, and is output periodically, for example twice persecond, although higher and lower data output rates are possible. Thevelocity values for each of the x and y axes may be multiplied by thetime duration between samples of the accelerometer (e.g., one-half of asecond in this non-limiting example) to get the distance traveled in thex and y directions from the initial point R1. Alternatively, the totalvelocity of the marking device may be multiplied by the time durationbetween samples of the accelerometer, and the direction of motion may bedetermined by comparing the velocity values for the x and y axes to eachother, e.g., by taking the ratio of the velocity along the x-axis to thevelocity along the y-axis. Either way, the distance traveled in the xand y directions may be determined.

In the non-limiting example of FIG. 29, the first line painted by thetechnician, i.e., line 2802 a, may serve as a base line or referenceline, from which the angle of subsequent motions may be referenced.Thus, in FIG. 29, the angle of the second motion of the technician, frompoints R2 to R3 along the path indicated by line 2804 a may bedetermined by reference to the direction of line 2802 a since theaccelerometer output will indicate a change from the motion along thepath of line 2802 a. The distance and direction of the line 2804 a maybe determined as described above for line 2802 a. Again, the line 2804 ais shown as a dashed line, as the actuation system of the marking deviceis not activated while the marking device traverses the illustratedpath.

The marking device is subsequently moved along line 2802 b (from pointR3 to R4), then along line 2804 b (from point R4 to R5), then along line2802 c (from point R5 to R6), along line 2802 d (from point R6 to R7),along line 2802 e (from point R7 to R8), and finally along line 2802 f(from point R8 back to point R5). The length and relative direction ofeach of the indicated lines may be determined as described above forline 2802 a.

Thus, it should be appreciated that according to this non-limitingembodiment, a value of GPS_(o) provided by a location tracking system isused only to determine the initial location of R1, after which thelocations of points R2-R8 are determined using dead reckoning.

Also, it should be appreciated that while the relative orientation ofeach of the indicated lines is determined from the dead reckoningtechniques described, the absolute, or actual, orientation is notdetermined from the accelerometer data since the actual orientation ofline 2802 a is not determined from the accelerometer data. Thus,according to one embodiment an additional step of determining an actualorientation of the line 2802 a may be performed. According to onenon-limiting embodiment, the actual orientation of line 2802 a may begiven by a heading provided by a compass of the marking device while theline 2802 a is made. Other techniques may alternatively be used todetermine the actual direction of the first motion of the markingpattern.

According to the above-described embodiment, the location of the tip ofa marking device may be determined by determining an initial locationusing a location tracking system and subsequently using the deadreckoning techniques described. Because the error associated with deadreckoning may increase as the distance traversed increases, it may bedesirable in some embodiments to “reset” the dead reckoning bydetermining a new initial location value using a location trackingsystem. For example, referring to the marking pattern 2800, in oneembodiment the location of R1 may be determined from a value of GPS_(o)given by a location tracking system and any of the techniques describedfor determining a value of GPS′ for the given GPS_(o). Subsequently,dead reckoning may be used to determine the paths of lines 2802 a, 2804a, 2802 b, and 2804 b. According to one embodiment, the location ofpoint R5 is not determined from dead reckoning, but rather may bedetermined by getting a value of GPS_(o) at the point R5 and calculatinga corresponding value of GPS′. Then, dead reckoning may be used todetermine the locations of lines 2802 c-2802 f. In this manner, locationerrors that accumulate using dead reckoning may be minimized oreliminated.

Accordingly, it should be understood that a new initial location pointserving as a starting point for the use of dead reckoning may be set atany suitable intervals during a marking operation. Suitable criteria fordetermining when to set a new initial location point for the use of deadreckoning include setting a new initial point for the beginning of eachnew mark that a technician makes (e.g., each new line, arrow, letter,etc.), for each new marking pattern (e.g., a dotting pattern, a linespattern, etc.), for each new marking job, or every time the deadreckoning data indicates a threshold total distance has been traveled(e.g., 5 meters, 10 meters, 50 meters, or any other threshold value).This list is not exhaustive, as other criteria may also be used todetermine when to set a new initial location point for the use of deadreckoning.

XI. ENHANCED USER INTERFACE

According to one aspect of the present invention, a marking device mayinclude an enhanced user interface with tactile functionality. As willbe described, the tactile functionality may be provided in one or moreof various locations on the marking device, and may be used for variouspurposes.

FIG. 30 illustrates an example of a portion of a marking device 2900including multiple tactile indicators for providing a tactile indicationto a technician using the marking device. The marking device 2900 may bea marking device according to any of the embodiments previouslydescribed herein. The marking device 2900 includes a body 2910, controlelectronics 2912, a handle 2914 and an actuator 2916. In addition, themarking device 2900 includes a user interface including a display 2918,a joystick 2920, and arrow selection buttons 2922. As compared to theuser interfaces of the marking devices previously described, the userinterface of the marking device 2900 also includes three tactileindicators, 2924 a-2924 c, which may alternatively be referred to asvibrating devices or vibrators.

The tactile indicator 2924 a is disposed within or on the handle 2914 ofthe marking device 2900, or otherwise mechanically coupled to the handle2914. The tactile indicator 2924 b is disposed within or on the joystick2920, or is otherwise mechanically coupled to the joystick 2920. Thetactile indicator 2924 c is disposed within or on the actuator 2916, orotherwise mechanically coupled to the actuator 2916. It should beappreciated that marking devices including tactile indicators accordingto the embodiments described herein are not limited to having anyparticular number of tactile indicators (i.e., one or more) and are notlimited in the locations at which the tactile indicators are placed.

The tactile indicators may be of any suitable type. One example of asuitable type of tactile indicator is that used in cellular telephonesto provide the “vibrate” functionality. According to one embodiment, oneor more of the tactile indicators is formed by a flywheel that has aweight configured to unbalance the flywheel, so that when the flywheelspins it wobbles. According to one embodiment, all three of the tactileindicators are the same type, although not all embodiments are limitedin this respect.

The tactile indicators 2924 a-2924 c may provide any suitable type oftactile indication to a technician, in terms of duration, frequency,intensity, pattern, and any combinations thereof. Also, the tactileindicators 2924 a-2924 c need not provide the same type of tactileindication. For example, tactile indicator 2924 a may provide arelatively strong, continuous vibration of long duration, whereastactile indicator 2924 b may provide a series of low intensity, shortvibrations. Furthermore, one or more of the tactile indicators may beconfigurable to provide multiple different types of tactile indications.For example, in some instances the tactile indicator 2924 a may providea long, continuous vibration, whereas in other instances the tactileindicator 2924 a may provide a short vibration. Thus, the type(s) oftactile indication presented by the tactile indicators is not limiting.

According to one embodiment, the tactile indications provided to a usermay have different meanings. According to one embodiment, the meaningmay differ depending on the tactile indicator providing the tactileindication. For example, vibration of the tactile indicator 2924 a mayindicate the marking device power supply is low, while vibration of thetactile indicator 2924 b may indicate the technician has tried to selectan invalid entry for a menu displayed on display 2918, and vibration ofthe tactile indicator 2924 c may indicate that the actuator 2916 is notfunctioning. According to one embodiment, different meanings may beconveyed by a single tactile indicator. For example, a short vibrationof tactile indicator 2924 a may indicate the marking device power supplyis low, while a longer duration vibration of tactile indicator 2924 amay indicate, for example, that the marking device is not at the correctjob location, for example as may be determined by a location trackingsystem of the marking device. Thus, it should be appreciated that thetactile indicators may be used to convey various messages to thetechnician.

According to one aspect of the present invention, one or more of thetactile indicators 2924 a-2924 c may operate in response to informationcollected by an environmental sensor and/or operational sensor of themarking device. For example, as described above (e.g., in connectionwith FIG. 25), some embodiments of the present invention provide analert or notification to the marking device technician if anout-of-tolerance condition is detected based on a condition sensed by anenvironmental or operational sensor. As explained, the alerts may takeany suitable form including visual and/or audible. In addition, oralternatively, the alerts may be presented via one or more of thetactile indicators. For example, the tactile indicator 2924 c mayvibrate if an out-of-tolerance condition is detected that would beadverse to dispensing of a marking material, and therefore adverse tooperation of the actuator 2916.

According to one embodiment, the nature of operation of each of thetactile indicators in FIG. 30, in terms of what triggers vibration ofthe tactile indicator, the type of vibration (intensity, duration,frequency, pattern, etc.), and the meaning may be controlled by thecontrol electronics 2912. For example, the nature of operation of eachof the tactile indicators may be programmed into a processor of thecontrol electronics (e.g., similar to processor 118, previouslydescribed).

In one example, the tactile sensations programmed for tactile indicator2924 a may be associated with the general operation of marking device2900 and/or aspects of the marking operations. In other words,conditions associated with the general operation of marking device 2900and/or aspects of the marking operations are communicated to the uservia tactile sensations at handle 2914. In this example, tactilesensations provided at handle 2914 may be used to indicate any eventsthat may occur on and/or any conditions of the marking device. Examplesof tactile sensations that are provided at handle 2914 by tactileindicator 2924 a may include, but are not limited to, the following:

-   -   1. when powering on the marking device, a certain tactile        sensation may indicate the start of the boot cycle, followed by        a “ready” tactile sensation;    -   2. a certain tactile sensation may indicate the status of        certain calibration processes and/or testing processes of        components of the marking device. This status may be indicated        during or just following the boot cycle. Additionally, this        status may be indicated at any time during the operation of the        marking device that any component falls out of calibration;    -   3. a certain tactile sensation may indicate that marking        dispenser is installed and has been read successfully;    -   4. a certain tactile sensation may indicate a change in        connectivity of the marking device to a network (e.g., dropped        or gained WiFi connectivity);    -   5. a certain tactile sensation may indicate a change in GPS        connectivity (e.g., dropped or gained);    -   6. certain tactile sensations may indicate that the battery        power (e.g., power supply 114) is below certain capacities        (e.g., 75%, 50%, 25% capacity);    -   7. a certain tactile sensation may indicate that the marking        device is not oriented correctly (e.g., at the wrong angle); and    -   8. any combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the tactile sensations programmed for tactileindicator 2924 b at the joystick 2920 may be associated with userinterface functions. In other words, when the user is using the joystickor buttons to navigate through menus on display 2918, tactile feedbackto the user at the joystick 2920 may be used to communicate, forexample, a validation of certain selections or user interface functions.Examples of tactile sensations that may be provided at joystick 2920 viatactile indicator 2924 b may include, but are not limited to, thefollowing:

-   -   1. a certain tactile sensation may be provided when moving from        option to option of a menu of the display 2918;    -   2. certain tactile sensations may indicate the selection of        different options of a menu of the display 2918. For example:        -   a. a certain tactile sensation may indicate a job started            selection and/or job stopped selection;        -   b. a certain tactile sensation may indicate that landmark            mode was selected as well as a certain type of landmark            selected;        -   c. a certain tactile sensation may indicate that Bluetooth®            communication is enabled and/or disabled;        -   d. a certain tactile sensation may indicate that an invalid            option has been selected. For example, the user has selected            a gas landmark, but no gas facility is indicated on the            current locate operation work order; or that the user has            selected a gas landmark, but the marking material color            installed in the marking device does not correspond to gas;            and    -   3. any combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the tactile sensations programmed for tactileindicator 2924 c at actuator 2916 may be associated with the process ofdispensing marking material. In other words, conditions associated withdispensing marking material from a marking dispenser may be communicatedto the user via tactile sensations at actuator 2916. Examples of tactilesensations that may be provided at actuator 2916 via tactile indicator2924 c may include, but are not limited to, the following:

-   -   1. when the user presses actuator 2916, a certain tactile        sensation may indicate that no marking material is installed in        the marking device;    -   2. when the user presses actuator 2916, a certain tactile        sensation may indicate that the wrong color marking material is        installed in the marking device. For example, blue marking        material is installed, but no water facility is indicated on the        current locate operation work order;    -   3. when the user presses actuator 2916, a certain tactile        sensation may indicate an out of (or low) marking material        condition;    -   4. a certain tactile sensation at actuator 2916 may be used to        prompt the user to activate actuator 2916 to dispense marking        material; and    -   5. any combinations thereof.

Tactile sensations may also be generated based on information receivedfrom one or more sources external to the marking device, such as, butnot limited to, external systems, external networks, external computingdevices, external business applications, and external instrumentation,among others. For example, the marking device (e.g., marking device2900) may be in communication with one or more external devices, such asremote computer 150, via a network. The network may be, for example, alocal area network (LAN) and/or a wide area network (WAN). The controlelectronics 2912 may be programmed to generate tactile sensations viaone or more of tactile indicators 2924 a-2924 c based on informationreceived from the remote computer 150.

Thus, further examples of scenarios which may trigger generation of atactile sensation via any one or more of the tactile indicators 2924a-2924 c may include, but are not limited to, the following:

-   -   1. the marking device may receive workflow information and/or a        checklist with respect to performing locate operations        according, for example, to U.S. patent application Ser. No.        12/703,809, entitled “Marking Apparatus Equipped with Ticket        Processing Software for Facilitating Marking Operations, and        Associated Methods,” filed Feb. 11, 2010, which application is        hereby incorporated by reference. A certain tactile sensation        may be generated to indicate compliance and/or non-compliance        with the workflow and/or checklist;    -   2. the marking device may receive standard operating procedure        (SOP) information with respect to performing locate operations        according to, for example, the Best Practices Version 6.0        document, published in February 2009 by the Common Ground        Alliance (CGA) of Alexandria, Va. (www.commongroundalliance.com)        and/or the Recommended Marking Guidelines For Underground        Utilities as endorsed by the National Utility Locating        Contractors Association (NULCA) of North Kansas City, Mo. A        certain tactile sensation may be generated to indicate        compliance and/or non-compliance with the SOP information;    -   3. the marking device may receive wage and hour information with        respect to performing locate operations according to, for        example, the wage and hour guidelines of one or more regulatory        bodies, such as federal, regional, state, and/or local wage and        hour guidelines. For example, a certain tactile sensation may be        generated to indicate compliance and/or non-compliance with the        wage and hour guidelines. Also, a certain tactile sensation may        be generated to indicate, for example, that it is time for a        required break, it is time for lunch, it is the end of the day,        the employee is now in overtime mode for the week, etc.;    -   4. the marking device may receive quality assessment information        with respect to performing locate operations according to, for        example, a quality assessment application of the locate company.        A certain tactile sensation may be generated to indicate that        the locate operation has passed and/or failed the locate        company's quality assessment process;    -   5. the marking device may receive VWL information with respect        to the current locate operation work order according to, for        example, the VWL application that is described with in U.S.        Patent Application Publication No. 20090238417, entitled        “Virtual white lines for indicating planned excavation sites on        electronic images;” that is incorporated by reference herein in        its entirety. A certain tactile sensation may be generated to        indicate that the locate operation is being performed inside        and/or outside of the boundaries of the associated VWL;    -   6. the marking device may receive facilities maps information        with respect to the current locate operation work order. A        certain tactile sensation may be generated to indicate that the        locate operation is approaching the location of a certain        facility that is indicated on the facilities maps associated        with the current locate operation work order. Also, a tactile        sensation may be generated to indicate that certain types of        facilities being located do not match the types of facilities        indicated on the facilities maps;    -   7. the marking device may receive information about prior locate        operations (e.g., historical work order information) with        respect to the location of the current locate operation. A        certain tactile sensation may be generated to indicate that the        locate operation is approaching the location of a certain        facility that is indicated in the historical information that is        associated with the current locate operation work order. Also, a        tactile sensation may be generated to indicate that certain        types of facilities being located do not match the types of        facilities indicated by the historical locate information.

It should be appreciated that information about the generation of atactile signal may be included in an electronic record, a message, orany other source of information including the other marking informationdescribed herein. For example, information about whether a tactilesignal was generated, which tactile indicator generated the signal, thetype of signal (e.g., duration, frequency, intensity, etc.), the causeof the signal, the time of the signal (e.g., from a timestamp), and/orthe geo-location at which the signal was issued, may be recorded, amongother things.

Table 22 illustrates an example of an event entry that may be made inresponse to actuation of an actuation system of a marking device, inwhich the marking device includes a tactile indicator. The illustratedevent entry is similar to that of Table 15, shown and describedpreviously, with the addition of an indication of whether a tactilesignal was generated (e.g., a “yes” or “no” indication being representedby “Y” and “N” for “TCTL”). As in Table 15, for purposes of this eventformat, the actuator is deemed to have three possible states, i.e.,PRESSED, HELD and RELEASED. Marking information from one or more inputdevices/other components of the marking device is recorded with theseevents to provide information about the job in progress.

TABLE 22 Format INFO+ WPTR: (DATE) (TIME) (GPS data) (PAINT info)(TRIGGER SWITCH STATE) (AMB TEMP info) (SURF TEMP info) (HUM info)(LIGHT info) (IMAGE info) (AUDIO info) (OP TEMP info) (COMPASS info)(INCL info) (ACC1 info) (ACC2 info) (YAW info) (PROX info) (DH1 info)(DH2 info) (TACTILE INDICATION info)<CR><LF> Examples INFO+WPTR:DATE(2008-12-07) TIME(09:35:15) GPS($GPGGA, 120443, 4807.038, N,01131.000, E, 1, 08, 0.9, 545.4, M, 46.9, M,, *47) CLR(RED)SWCH(PRESSED) AMB TEMP(73F) SURF TEMP(78F) HUM(31) LIGHT(1500) IMAGE(Y)AUDIO(Y) OP TEMP(97F) COMPASS(243) INCL(−40) ACC1(.285) ACC2(!) YAW(!)PROX(15) DH1(67) DH2(!) TCTL(Y) <CR><LF> INFO+WPTR: DATE(2009-04-15)TIME(12:04:45) GPS($GPGGA, 120445, 4807.038, N, 01131.000, E, 1, 08,0.9, 545.4, M, 46.9, M,, *47) CLR(RED) SWCH(HELD) AMB TEMP(73F) SURFTEMP(78F) HUM(31) LIGHT(1500) IMAGE(Y) AUDIO(Y) OP TEMP(97F)COMPASS(243) INCL(−40) ACC1(.285) ACC2(!) YAW(!) PROX(15) DH1(67) DH2(!)TCTL(Y) <CR><LF> INFO+WPTR: DATE(2009-04-15) TIME(12:04:46) GPS($GPGGA,120446, 4807.038, N, 01131.000, E, 1, 08, 0.9, 545.4, M, 46.9, M,, *47)CLR(RED) SWCH(RELEASED) AMB TEMP(73F) SURF TEMP(78F) HUM(31) LIGHT(1500)IMAGE(Y) AUDIO(Y) OP TEMP(97F) COMPASS(243) INCL(−40) ACC1(.285) ACC2(!)YAW(!) PROX(15) DH1(67) DH2(!) TCTL(N) <CR><LF>

Table 23 illustrates an example of a data record that may be generatedby a marking device including a tactile indicator, as well as variousenvironmental and operational sensors. As shown, the data record mayinclude a “yes/no” indication of whether a tactile signal was generated,as well as information about the type of signal. It should beappreciated that other forms for the data are possible and that otherinformation regarding the tactile indicator may be included, such as anyof the types of information described above.

TABLE 23 Example record of data acquired by marking device 2900 uponactuation Record Service provider ID 0482 # act-1 User ID 4815 Device ID7362 timestamp data 12-Jul-2008; 09:35:15.2 Geo-location data 2650.9256,N, 08003.5234, W Product data Color = Red, Brand = ABC Locate requestdata Requestor: XYZ Construction Company, Requested service address: 222Main St, Orlando, FL Temperature (° F.) 75 Humidity (%) 76 Heading(degrees) 243 Inclination (degrees) 25 Acceleration (g) 0.75 Yaw rate(degrees/sec) 10 Distance (cm) 15 Pressure (psi) 44 Image captured (Y/N)Y Audio captured (Y/N) N Tactile signal (Y/N) Y Type of Tactile signalRepeating vibration; duration 3 seconds

In those embodiments in which a marking device includes both a tactileindicator and at least one accelerometer, data from the accelerometer(s)may be used to verify whether a tactile indication was generated, as theaccelerometer data may reflect any physical movement of the markingdevice, including the physical vibrations caused by a tactile indicator.Thus, referring again to Table 23, for example, the acceleration datamay provide verification that the indicated tactile signal was in factgenerated.

It should be appreciated that many of the aspects of the presentinvention described above also apply to a combination locate and markingdevice. As explained, a locate receiver is a device typically used tolocate an underground facility, after which the location may be markedusing a marking device of the types described herein. According to oneembodiment, a single device may perform the function of a locatereceiver and a marking device, and thus may be a combination locate andmarking device, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/569,192, filed on Sep. 29, 2009 under Attorney Docket No.D0687.70010US01 and titled “Methods, Apparatus, and Systems ForGenerating Electronic Records Of Locate And Marking Operations, AndCombined Locate And Marking Apparatus For Same,” which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The various aspectsdescribed herein relating to marking devices may also apply to suchcombination locate and marking devices as those described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/569,192.

XII. CONCLUSION

As discussed herein, a wide variety of information/data may be acquiredand analyzed in connection with marking operations, for a variety ofpurposes. The data of interest that may be acquired and analyzed mayinclude, but is not limited to, t1 timestamp data, t2 timestamp data,geo-location information of physical locate marks, geo-locationinformation of environmental landmarks, direction information, anyinformation included in the standard data stream of the locate trackingsystem (e.g., GPS system), color/type of marking material, amount ofmarking material in marking dispenser, serial number of markingdispenser (e.g., barcode, RFID), ID information (e.g., individual,vehicle, wage and/or hour compliance), battery status of the markingdevice, angle of spray of marking material (e.g., using aninclinometer), wired/wireless connection status, Bluetooth® signalstrength, storage capacity of the local memory, temperature, humidity,light level, movement of the marking device, mode of operation of themarking device, docking state of the marking device (e.g.,docked/undocked, charging/not charging), alerts against expectations inperformance (e.g., compare amount and/or type of marking materialsprayed against facility maps), and any combination thereof.

The information, such as shown in various tables herein, that may beacquired by use of the data acquisition system and methods describedherein, may be used for any purpose. In an embodiment, the informationof the data acquisition system may be analyzed against expected markingoperations in order to gain benefits in, for example, operatingefficiency, personnel management, inventory management, quality control,training operations, safety, customer satisfaction, and the like.

Additionally, the information that is acquired by use of the dataacquisition system and the methods of the present disclosure may becorrelated to other aspects of locate and marking operations. Forexample, the marking device data streams (e.g., respective event entriesor one or more electronic records transmitted by the marking device) maybe correlated to other data streams of multiple marking devices or anyother devices in order to aggregate, assess, evaluate, draw insightsfrom, take action on this information, and any combination thereof.Correlating disparate data streams may be useful in order to betterinterpret and/or gain new interpretations that are useful. For example,by analyzing the aggregated data, field service providers may gainvisibility into the distributed workforce, may take corrective and/orany other constructive action to improve process management, may improveand/or develop best practices, and any combination thereof. In anembodiment, certain trends may be identified by correlating historicalrecords of the amount of time that is spent performing locate andmarking operations to other information, such as, but not limited to,the time of day, time of year, address of the locate site, experience ofthe locate technician, weather conditions, heavy or light traffic times,and the like.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustratedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision avariety of other means and/or structures for performing the functionand/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantagesdescribed herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications isdeemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments describedherein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciatethat all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations describedherein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters,dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon thespecific application or applications for which the inventive teachingsis/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able toascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalentsto the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is,therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presentedby way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claimsand equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventiveembodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individualfeature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein.In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent,is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

The above-described embodiments can be implemented in any of numerousways. For example, the embodiments may be implemented using hardware,software or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, thesoftware code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection ofprocessors, whether provided in a single computer or distributed amongmultiple computers.

The various methods or processes outlined herein may be coded assoftware that is executable on one or more processors that employ anyone of a variety of operating systems or platforms. Additionally, suchsoftware may be written using any of a number of suitable programminglanguages and/or programming or scripting tools, and also may becompiled as executable machine language code or intermediate code thatis executed on a framework or virtual machine.

In this respect, various inventive concepts may be embodied as acomputer readable storage medium (or multiple computer readable storagemedia) (e.g., a computer memory, one or more floppy discs, compactdiscs, optical discs, magnetic tapes, flash memories, circuitconfigurations in Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other semiconductordevices, or other non-transitory or tangible computer storage medium)encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or morecomputers or other processors, perform methods that implement thevarious embodiments of the invention discussed above. The computerreadable medium or media can be transportable, such that the program orprograms stored thereon can be loaded onto one or more differentcomputers or other processors to implement various aspects of thepresent invention as discussed above.

The terms “program” or “software” are used herein in a generic sense torefer to any type of computer code or set of computer-executableinstructions that can be employed to program a computer or otherprocessor to implement various aspects of embodiments as discussedabove. Additionally, it should be appreciated that according to oneaspect, one or more computer programs that when executed perform methodsof the present invention need not reside on a single computer orprocessor, but may be distributed in a modular fashion amongst a numberof different computers or processors to implement various aspects of thepresent invention.

Computer-executable instructions may be in many forms, such as programmodules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally,program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Typically the functionality of the program modulesmay be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

Also, data structures may be stored in computer-readable media in anysuitable form. For simplicity of illustration, data structures may beshown to have fields that are related through location in the datastructure. Such relationships may likewise be achieved by assigningstorage for the fields with locations in a computer-readable medium thatconveys relationship between the fields. However, any suitable mechanismmay be used to establish a relationship between information in fields ofa data structure, including through the use of pointers, tags or othermechanisms that establish relationship between data elements.

Also, various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods,of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of themethod may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments maybe constructed in which acts are performed in an order different thanillustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, eventhough shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood tocontrol over dictionary definitions, definitions in documentsincorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the definedterms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in thespecification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to thecontrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in theclaims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements soconjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some casesand disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with“and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” ofthe elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be presentother than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause,whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when usedin conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer,in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other thanB); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionallyincluding other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should beunderstood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. Forexample, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall beinterpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, butalso including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and,optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated tothe contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when usedin the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactlyone element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or”as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusivealternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded byterms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or“exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims,shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “atleast one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should beunderstood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more ofthe elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including atleast one of each and every element specifically listed within the listof elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the listof elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally bepresent other than the elements specifically identified within the listof elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “atleast one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) canrefer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including morethan one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements otherthan B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally includingmore than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionallyincluding more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including morethan one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitionalphrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,”“containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are tobe understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limitedto. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consistingessentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases,respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual ofPatent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

1. A marking apparatus for performing a marking operation to indicate apresence or an absence of at least one underground facility, the markingapparatus comprising: a hand-held housing; a holder configured to holdto the hand-held housing at least one marking dispenser containing amarking material; a location tracking system mechanically coupled to thehand-held housing and configured to determine a location of theapparatus; at least one processor communicatively coupled to thelocation tracking system; and at least one input device communicativelycoupled to the at least one processor, configured to sense at least oneoperating condition of the apparatus, and provide an output signal tothe at least one processor indicative of the sensed at least oneoperating condition.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at leastone input device comprises an inclinometer and wherein the at least oneoperating condition is a degree of inclination of the apparatus.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a marking material detectionmechanism communicatively coupled to the at least one processor toprovide an output signal to the at least one processor.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the at least one input device comprises a compassand wherein the at least one operating condition is a heading of theapparatus.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one inputdevice is a temperature sensor and wherein the at least one operatingcondition is a temperature of the at least one processor.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device is atemperature sensor and wherein the at least one operating condition is atemperature internal to the hand-held housing.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the at least one input device is a proximity sensor and theat least one operating condition is a distance between the apparatus anda target surface.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the distancebetween the apparatus and a target surface is a distance between thelocation tracking system and physical ground.
 9. The apparatus of claim7, wherein the distance between the apparatus and a target surface is adistance between a tip of the apparatus and a surface on which markingmaterial is to be dispensed.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theat least one input device is a yaw rate sensor and wherein the at leastone operating condition is a yaw rate of the apparatus.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device is anaccelerometer and wherein the at least one operating condition is anacceleration of the apparatus.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe accelerometer is a three-axis accelerometer and wherein the at leastone operating condition is a respective acceleration for each of thethree axes.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the accelerometer isa three-axis accelerometer and wherein the at least one operatingcondition is a combined acceleration for all three axes.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the accelerometer is a firstaccelerometer, and wherein the at least one input device comprises asecond accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of theapparatus.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the firstaccelerometer is disposed at a first position of the hand-held housingand the second accelerometer is disposed at a second position of thehand-held housing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the firstaccelerometer is disposed proximate a tip of the apparatus and thesecond accelerometer is disposed proximate the location tracking system.17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first accelerometer isdisposed proximate a tip of the apparatus and the second accelerometeris disposed proximate a top of the apparatus.
 18. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the at least one input device comprises a pressure sensor andwherein the at least one operating condition is a pressure applied to atleast a portion of the hand-held housing.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18,wherein the hand-held housing includes a handle, and wherein the atleast one operating condition is a pressure applied to the handle. 20.The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the hand-held housing includes atrigger, and wherein the at least one operating condition is a pressureapplied to the trigger.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein thetrigger forms at least part of an actuation mechanism configured tocontrol dispensing of the marking material.
 22. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the at least one input device is a device health sensor andwherein the at least one operating condition is indicative of anoperating state of at least one component of the apparatus.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device comprises anaudio recorder and wherein the at least one operating condition is anacoustic signal emitted by the at least one marking dispenser.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 23, further comprising a microphone coupled to theaudio recorder and configured to detect the acoustic signal and providean analog representation of the acoustic signal to the audio recorder.25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one input devicecomprises an image capture device.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25,wherein the at least one operating condition is a condition of themarking material dispensed by the apparatus, and wherein the outputsignal forms at least part of an image of dispensed marking material.27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the image capture device isfurther configured to provide to the at least one processor at least oneoutput signal indicative of an operating state of the image capturedevice.
 28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least oneoperating condition is an operating state of the image capture device.29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the operating state of the imagecapture device is a mode of operation of the image capture device. 30.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor ismechanically coupled to the at least one housing.
 31. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one processor is disposed within thehand-held housing.
 32. A method for performing a marking operation tomark a presence or absence of at least one underground facility using amarking device, the method comprising: A) dispensing, via actuation ofan actuation system of the marking device, marking material onto atarget surface; B) detecting, via a location tracking system, a locationof the marking device; C) detecting, via at least one input device ofthe marking device, at least one operating condition of the markingdevice; and D) logging into local memory of the marking device markinginformation relating at least in part to A), B), and C).
 33. The methodof claim 32, wherein C) comprises detecting a degree of inclination ofthe marking device.
 34. The method of claim 32, further comprising E)detecting, via a marking material detection mechanism of the markingdevice, at least one characteristic of the marking material.
 35. Themethod of claim 32, wherein C) comprises detecting a heading of themarking device.
 36. The method of claim 32, wherein C) comprisesdetecting a temperature of a processor of the marking device.
 37. Themethod of claim 32, wherein the marking device includes a hand-heldhousing in which the local memory is disposed, and wherein C) comprisesdetecting a temperature internal to the hand-held housing.
 38. Themethod of claim 32, wherein C) comprises detecting a distance betweenthe marking device and a target surface.
 39. The method of claim 38,wherein detecting a distance between the marking device and a targetsurface comprises detecting a distance between the location trackingsystem and physical ground.
 40. The method of claim 38, whereindetecting a distance between the marking device and a target surfacecomprises detecting a distance between a tip of the marking device and asurface on which marking material is to be dispensed.
 41. The method ofclaim 32, wherein C) comprises detecting a yaw rate of the markingdevice.
 42. The method of claim 32, wherein C) comprises detecting anacceleration of the marking device.
 43. The method of claim 42, whereindetecting an acceleration of the marking device comprises detecting arespective acceleration along each of three axes of the marking device.44. The method of claim 42, wherein detecting an acceleration of themarking device comprises detecting a combined acceleration along threeaxes of the marking device.
 45. The method of claim 42, whereindetecting an acceleration of the marking device comprises detecting anacceleration of a first point of the marking device and detecting anacceleration of a second point of the marking device.
 46. The method ofclaim 45, wherein the first point of the marking device corresponds to atip of the marking device and wherein the second point of the markingdevice corresponds to a position of the location tracking system. 47.The method of claim 45, wherein the first point of the marking devicecorresponds to a tip of the marking device and wherein the second pointof the marking device corresponds to a top of the marking device. 48.The method of claim 32, wherein the marking device includes a hand-heldhousing and wherein C) comprises detecting a pressure applied to atleast a portion of the hand-held housing.
 49. The method of claim 48,wherein the hand-held housing includes a handle, and wherein detecting apressure applied to at least a portion of the hand-held housingcomprises detecting a pressure applied to the handle.
 50. The method ofclaim 48, wherein the hand-held housing includes a trigger, and whereindetecting a pressure applied to at least a portion of the hand-heldhousing comprises detecting a pressure applied to the trigger.
 51. Themethod of claim 32, wherein C) comprises detecting a conditionindicative of whether a component of the marking device is operatingcorrectly.
 52. The method of claim 32, wherein C) comprises detecting anacoustic signal generated by dispensing of the marking material in A).53. The method of claim 32, wherein C) comprises acquiring data from animage capture device.
 54. At least one computer readable storage mediumstoring processor-executable instructions which, when executed by atleast one processor, perform a method for facilitating a markingoperation to mark a presence or absence of at least one undergroundfacility using a marking device, the method comprising: A) detecting,via a location tracking system, a location of the marking device; B)detecting, via at least one input device of the marking device, at leastone operating condition of the marking device; and C) logging into localmemory of the marking device marking information relating at least inpart to A) and B).